Investigating how Keratin 18 helps older adults gain strength from exercise
Official title: Role of Keratin 18 for Stress-induced Adaptive Strength Gains
Funded at Ohio University Athens · NIH-10805876 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a protein called Keratin 18 to see how it helps older adults build strength and adapt their muscles when they exercise, with the hope of finding new ways to keep muscles healthy as we age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio University Athens NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $151,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AG081950-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10805876 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing muscle weakness or frailty.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 21 or do not have issues related to muscle strength or frailty may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of Keratin 18, a protein that may help older adults adapt their muscles to physical stress and improve strength. By studying how this protein functions in response to exercise, the researchers aim to identify mechanisms that can enhance muscle quality and combat age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia. The study involves examining muscle samples from both young and older mice to see how Keratin 18 levels affect strength gains after exercise. The findings could lead to new strategies for improving muscle health in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved methods for enhancing muscle strength and quality in older adults, potentially reducing frailty and improving overall health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding muscle adaptations to exercise, but the specific role of Keratin 18 in older adults is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio University Athens
Athens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baumann, Cory W — Ohio University Athens
- Study coordinator: Baumann, Cory W
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.