How targeted cell cleanup (selective autophagy) affects aging and health
Official title: Role of Selective Autophagy in Organismal Health
Funded at Buck Institute for Research on Aging · NIH-11330203 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether boosting selective autophagy — the cell's targeted cleanup of damaged proteins and mitochondria — can help improve health as organisms age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Buck Institute for Research on Aging NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Novato, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $483,927 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG072791-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330203 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
There are no current human participants for this preclinical research; future clinical work would likely enroll older adults at risk for age-related conditions.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate treatments for acute illnesses or conditions unrelated to aging are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
This project uses laboratory experiments in small animals and molecular studies to understand how the autophagy receptor p62 controls selective removal of damaged proteins and mitochondria. The team alters p62 levels and monitors effects on protein aggregates, cell health, and lifespan and healthspan in model organisms. They also test how stress treatments that normally improve longevity rely on p62-driven selective autophagy in specific tissues such as neurons. Results will clarify whether turning on targeted cellular cleanup in particular tissues can protect against age-related decline.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify molecular targets to boost cell cleanup and guide therapies that slow age-related damage and disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal work, including evidence that p62 overexpression promotes autophagy and extends lifespan in C. elegans, supports the approach, but translation to humans remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Novato, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hansen, Malene — Buck Institute for Research on Aging
- Study coordinator: Hansen, Malene
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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.