A new treatment for mitochondrial disorders in young children

A New Therapy for Neurodevelopmental Mitochondrial Disorders

NIH-funded research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10889550

This study is testing a new drug that aims to help children with mitochondrial disorders by improving their metabolism, especially for those diagnosed early in life, to see if it can prevent serious brain problems.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-10889550 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates a novel drug designed to support metabolism in children with mitochondrial disorders, particularly focusing on those diagnosed during pregnancy or early infancy. The study utilizes a mouse model to explore how this drug can improve metabolic pathways, specifically the Krebs cycle, which is crucial for brain development. By understanding glucose metabolism in these models, the research aims to identify effective treatment strategies that could be translated to human patients. The ultimate goal is to provide a therapeutic option that could prevent severe neurological defects in affected infants.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are infants diagnosed with mitochondrial disorders, particularly those showing symptoms in the neonatal or early infantile periods.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than three years or those without mitochondrial disorders may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a groundbreaking treatment that improves survival and quality of life for infants with mitochondrial disorders.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been advancements in prenatal diagnosis of mitochondrial disorders, this specific approach to treatment is novel and has not been extensively tested in human subjects.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.