Investigating how unacylated ghrelin affects muscle weakness and loss in aging and cancer patients
Official title: The role of unacylated ghrelin on age-associated progressive muscle weakness and cachexia elicited by cancer
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-10791902 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a hormone called unacylated ghrelin might help older adults and cancer patients keep their muscles strong and healthy, which could improve their overall quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2020 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AG064143-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10791902 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are experiencing muscle weakness or cachexia due to aging or cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not experiencing muscle weakness or cachexia, or those under 21 years of age, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the effects of unacylated ghrelin, a hormone, on preventing muscle weakness and loss associated with aging and cancer cachexia. The study aims to explore how this hormone can promote muscle health by enhancing muscle cell differentiation and reducing atrophy. Patients may benefit from a novel treatment that could improve their quality of life by maintaining muscle mass and strength. The research involves both laboratory experiments and potential clinical applications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that help patients maintain muscle strength and mass, improving their overall health and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with similar hormonal interventions, suggesting potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
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Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahn, Bumsoo — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Ahn, Bumsoo
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Investigating how unacylated ghrelin affects muscle weakness in aging and cancer.
This study is looking at whether a hormone called unacylated ghrelin can help older adults and cancer patients keep their muscles strong and prevent muscle loss, with the hope of finding a new way to support those dealing with muscle weakness.
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Mitochondrial pores and muscle loss in cancer cachexia
A small US-based study will explore how changes in mitochondria contribute to muscle wasting in people with cancer cachexia and how this may be slowed.
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CANCAN: A Virtual Institute to Cure Cancer Cachexia
A broad, collaborative NIH initiative aims to uncover why cancer patients lose weight and muscle and to develop new ways to treat this serious condition.
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Adipose tissue and its role in lung cancer cachexia
A new NIH grant explores how fat tissue around the body may feed lung cancer growth and drive weight loss, with the aim of finding ways to help patients who struggle with cancer cachexia.
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Spatial metabolism mapping in cancer cachexia tissues
Aims to map where and how metabolism changes in tissues affected by cancer cachexia using advanced imaging technology.
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Innate inflammatory control of cachexia in chronic disease
A research team is studying how inflammation drives cachexia in chronic disease using a parasite model to find therapies that could protect lean body mass without raising infection risk.
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.