Creating a clock to predict frailty and lifespan in mice
Official title: Development of a Predictive Frailty Clock & Longitudinal Investigation of its Epigenetic Determinants
Funded at Institute for Systems Biology · NIH-11083055 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to predict how long mice will live and how healthy they are by creating a special tool that measures different signs of aging, and it’s especially focused on younger female mice to help us understand aging better, which could also help with human health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Institute for Systems Biology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $244,020 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AG070102-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11083055 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals interested in the biological mechanisms of aging and frailty, particularly those with a family history of age-related conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no interest in aging research or those who do not have age-related health concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how to predict the lifespan and overall health of mice by developing a frailty clock that incorporates various physiological and molecular measures. The study will involve regular health assessments and blood collection from mice to identify novel biomarkers. By using advanced machine learning techniques, the researchers aim to create a model that accurately forecasts the time to death in different strains of mice, particularly focusing on younger female mice. This approach could provide insights into aging and frailty that may be applicable to human health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prediction of aging-related health issues, potentially improving interventions for age-related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using frailty indices to predict mortality in humans, suggesting that similar approaches in mice may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Institute for Systems Biology
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kane, Alice E — Institute for Systems Biology
- Study coordinator: Kane, Alice E
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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.