Genetic clues to how mitochondrial and nuclear genes affect aging and dementia
Official title: Genetic dissection of mitonuclear interactions in aging and neurodegenerative disease
Funded at Broad Institute, INC. · NIH-11401173 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how the interaction between mitochondrial and nuclear genes might influence aging and diseases like Alzheimer’s dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Broad Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $610,836 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG095944-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401173 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease dementia or related dementias, or those at risk, may indirectly benefit from future therapies developed from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias may not directly benefit from this basic science work.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how changes in the mitochondrial genome and its interaction with nuclear genes contribute to aging and Alzheimer’s-related dementias. They have developed new tools to edit mitochondrial DNA and to analyze mtDNA copy number and heteroplasmy in large biobank data sets. The work aims to reveal mechanisms that could become targets for preventing or slowing neurodegenerative disease in people living with ADRD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gaining insight into mitonuclear causes of dementia could identify new angles for treatment or prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed mitochondrial changes are linked to aging and dementia; this project builds on promising technologies to study these interactions.
Where this research is happening
-
Broad Institute, INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mootha, Vamsi Krishna — Broad Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Mootha, Vamsi Krishna
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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.