Insulin's role in aging and metabolic diseases
Official title: Insulin regulates aging-associated genes through chromatin topology
Funded at Joslin Diabetes Center · NIH-10973419 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how insulin affects genes related to aging and conditions like type 2 diabetes, using animal models to see how a specific protein called Tmtc2 helps manage calcium levels and influences aging, with the hope of finding new ways to treat age-related metabolic issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Joslin Diabetes Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $37,463 |
| NIH project number | 1F99AG088573-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10973419 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing age-related metabolic conditions, particularly those with type 2 diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing metabolic disorders or are younger individuals without age-related health issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how insulin signaling affects genes associated with aging and metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes. It aims to understand the mechanisms by which insulin regulates cellular responses to stress and aging through changes in chromatin structure. The study will utilize animal models to explore the role of a specific protein, Tmtc2, in calcium homeostasis and its impact on aging-related gene expression. By examining these processes, the research seeks to uncover potential therapeutic targets for age-related metabolic disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that delay aging and improve metabolic health in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding insulin's role in aging and metabolic diseases, indicating that this approach has potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Xiangyu — Joslin Diabetes Center
- Study coordinator: Liu, Xiangyu
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Biological aging across the lifespan through a national high school-to-adult study
This grant uses a long-running national study of students and adults to collect saliva biomarkers of aging, alongside surveys, to understand how aging markers relate to health and life experiences.
-
Understanding how aging and Alzheimer’s affect how people make tough choices
This NIH grant studies how aging and Alzheimer’s risk change how people decide between immediate and delayed rewards and risky options, with the goal of helping older adults stay financially and healthwise safer.
-
Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
-
National Neighborhood Data Archive helps researchers study aging health in U.S. neighborhoods
A nationwide data resource will help researchers understand how where people live affects health and aging, with a focus on respiratory illnesses in older adults.
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.