How cells respond to age-related chromatin changes
Molecular mechanisms of cellular response to age-associated chromatin changes
This project looks at whether boosting a natural cellular response to age-related chromatin changes can protect cells and help slow aging and age-related diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299533 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are examining a cellular stress response called the CAD response that appears when chromatin (the structure that packages DNA) changes with age. They use yeast cells that mimic some features of aged human cells to map the genes and pathways that turn this response on and off. The team will study how the CAD response interacts with known aging pathways like TOR signaling and with metabolic changes. Findings will guide whether modest activation of this response could become a strategy to protect cells and delay aspects of aging.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People interested in aging research—particularly older adults or those at risk for age-related conditions—would be the most relevant group for future clinical follow-up or trials based on this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatments or those with conditions unrelated to aging biology are unlikely to see direct benefit from this preclinical work in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to boost cells' protective responses and ultimately slow aging or reduce the risk of age-related diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Related basic research in yeast has shown that moderate activation of the CAD response can extend lifespan in that model, but translation to humans has not yet been tested.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dang, Weiwei — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Dang, Weiwei
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.