Gut signals that protect cells and slow aging
Official title: Gut stress-induced intercellular signaling networks promoting longevity and proteostasis
Funded at University of North Carolina Charlotte · NIH-11330604 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether signals released by the gut can strengthen cells and help prevent age-related problems like dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Carolina Charlotte NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlotte, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $370,490 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG082970-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330604 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, or older adults at risk of age-related protein-misfolding conditions would be the likely candidates for future human studies stemming from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Because this is early lab work in worms, patients should not expect direct or immediate treatment benefits from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how mild stress in the gut triggers signals that help other tissues maintain healthy proteins as organisms age. They use C. elegans (tiny roundworms) to reduce a gut protein called Hsp90 and observe how that change alters intercellular signaling and protein-quality control across the body. The team maps these signaling networks and identifies molecules that could later be tested in mammal or human studies. This is basic laboratory work to find mechanisms that might be targeted to promote healthier aging and protect against diseases like Alzheimer's.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that harness gut-derived signals to protect brain and muscle cells and slow diseases such as Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies have shown gut and neuronal signals can influence aging and protein homeostasis, but translating these findings into human treatments remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Charlotte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Oosten-Hawle, Patricija — University of North Carolina Charlotte
- Study coordinator: Van Oosten-Hawle, Patricija
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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.