How aging and muscle activity change tiny particles that help muscles heal
Official title: The opposing effects of matrix aging and muscle activity on extracellular vesicle promotion of muscle regeneration
Funded at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital · NIH-11326809 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether small particles released by muscle cells and the stiffness of the surrounding tissue affect how well older muscles recover after injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlestown, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $656,164 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG087565-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326809 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults with age-related muscle weakness or recent skeletal muscle injuries would be the most likely future candidates for therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
People with genetic muscular disorders unrelated to aging or injuries that do not involve skeletal muscle may not see direct benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
You would learn how researchers are comparing younger and older muscle environments to see how small cell-released packages called extracellular vesicles help muscle stem cells rebuild tissue. They will change the stiffness and makeup of the muscle scaffold and examine how muscle activity alters vesicle content and stem cell behavior. Work will combine lab-grown cells, engineered surfaces, and animal models, and may include human muscle samples to connect results back to people. The team aims to find ways to reduce scarring and improve strength after injury in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that boost muscle repair and reduce fibrosis, improving recovery and function in older adults after injury.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory studies have shown that matrix stiffness and extracellular vesicles influence muscle stem cell fate, but translating these findings to improve regeneration in aged muscle is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Charlestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ambrosio, Fabrisia — Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ambrosio, Fabrisia
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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.