How exercising blood and its messengers could help aging veterans regain muscle after bed rest
Official title: Manipulation of the systemic environment to improve skeletal muscle recovery after disuse-induced atrophy
Funded at Oklahoma City VA Medical Center · NIH-11183462 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study explores whether factors in exercising blood can help older adults, especially aging veterans, recover muscle after periods of inactivity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oklahoma City VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 1IK2BX006533-01A2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11183462 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 65 and older who have experienced periods of disuse or immobilization and are at risk for sarcopenia.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy younger adults or those without recent disuse are unlikely to benefit from this specific study.
What this research studies
As people age, recovering muscle after immobilization becomes harder and can limit daily activities. This project looks at whether changing the systemic environment through exercise-derived factors can improve muscle mass and strength after disuse in older adults. Researchers will use plasma from exercised individuals and extracellular vesicles carrying exerkines to test effects on skeletal muscle recovery. The goal is to uncover a new way to boost recovery and quality of life for aging veterans who have experienced hospitalizations and bed rest. If successful, this approach could lead to new therapeutic strategies that support mobility and independence in older patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could help aging individuals regain muscle faster after inactivity, improving mobility and independence.
How similar studies have gone: Early concepts around systemic factors and muscle recovery have shown promise, but this exact approach is relatively novel and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Oklahoma City VA Medical Center
Oklahoma City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bubak, Matthew — Oklahoma City VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Bubak, Matthew
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.