Investigating how aging affects the brain and fat tissue communication
Official title: Molecular mechanisms of pathological aging of human brain and adipose and their inter-organ communication
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10790716 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how aging affects our bodies and its link to diseases like Alzheimer's and type 2 diabetes, using samples from brain and fat tissues to find out what makes healthy aging different from aging with health issues, which could help us learn more about these diseases in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $464,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG085140-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10790716 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults who may be experiencing symptoms of age-related diseases or have a family history of such conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger or do not have any risk factors for age-related diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the biological mechanisms behind aging and its connection to diseases like Alzheimer's and type 2 diabetes. By analyzing tissue samples from the brain and adipose (fat) tissues, the study aims to identify differences between healthy and pathological aging. Researchers will use advanced techniques to compare gene expressions in these tissues and validate their findings through experiments on mouse models. The goal is to understand how aging impacts communication between these organs, which could lead to new insights into age-related diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's and diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: While the study's approach is innovative, previous research has shown that understanding the molecular mechanisms of aging can lead to significant advancements in treating age-related diseases.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Jun — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Wang, Jun
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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.