Combining Prostaglandin E2 Modulation and Rehab for Muscle Loss in Aging Veterans
Official title: Combining Prostaglandin E2 Modulation and Rehabilitation for Treatment of Volumetric Muscle Loss
Funded at Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys · NIH-11357332 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aging Veterans with muscle loss may gain muscle more effectively when a small-molecule drug that boosts a natural muscle-building signal is used together with targeted exercise and rehab.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I21RX004898-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11357332 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (65+ years) with sarcopenia, including Veterans, who are able to participate in a rehab program and receive the drug delivery.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience meaningful muscle gains due to individual factors or comorbidities.
What this research studies
This project focuses on older adults (with an emphasis on Veterans) who experience sarcopenia, a condition where muscles waste away. It explores delivering a drug that blocks the breakdown of prostaglandin E2 to boost muscle formation, combined with a rehabilitation program to maximize muscle repair. The approach builds on prior lab work showing that increasing PGE2 can help satellite cells expand and form new muscle fibers, aiming to translate this into a safe, practical therapy. The study will consider how to deliver the drug in a way that works alongside exercise to improve strength and function. By addressing both biology and rehabilitation, the project seeks to offer a new option for age-related muscle loss in a real-world setting for Veterans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, older adults with sarcopenia could regain muscle strength and mobility, improving daily functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data and space-derived research suggest that boosting PGE2 signaling can enhance muscle formation, with translational work still needed.
Where this research is happening
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Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys
Palo Alto, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Ngan F. — Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys
- Study coordinator: Huang, Ngan F.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.