Exploring How Metal Ions Affect Health and Aging
Hydrogen Bonding Cavity Motifs About Metal Ions
This research explores how the tiny environments around metal ions in our bodies influence important processes related to health and aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10994163 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project takes inspiration from natural proteins in our bodies that use metal ions to perform vital tasks. Researchers are building new chemical structures that mimic these natural designs, creating specific "microenvironments" around metal ions. By carefully changing these structures, they can learn how these tiny surroundings affect the metal ions' ability to activate oxygen and process water, which are key to our health. The ultimate goal is to understand how these metal-assisted processes work, and why they sometimes don't, especially as we age. This foundational work aims to develop structure-function relationships in metal-assisted oxidative catalysis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but future studies building on this knowledge might seek individuals with conditions related to aging or oxidative stress.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatments or direct participation opportunities would not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to understand and potentially treat conditions related to aging and other health issues where metal ions play a role.
How similar studies have performed: While metalloproteins in nature successfully perform these functions, creating synthetic systems with similar control over metal ion environments is a novel and challenging area of research.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Borovik, Andrew S. — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Borovik, Andrew S.
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 below.