NIH-funded research R01 grant

Metabolomics clocks: a new way to study aging mechanisms

Official title: Metabolomics clocks as a tool to explore mechanisms of aging

Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11384842 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A patient-facing look at how tiny molecules in the body could help us understand why aging happens and how it links to health and disease.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionTufts University Boston
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startSeptember 30, 2024
Project endJune 30, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$633,880
NIH project number5R01AG082696-03
Project IDNIH-11384842 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults interested in aging research or who want to learn how metabolic markers relate to aging may be eligible for associated future studies or trials.

Less likely to help

This particular grant is a basic-science project; it may not immediately lead to treatments for individuals.

What this research studies

This project uses metabolite profiles to study aging and its related health changes, building on work that links metabolites to aging in model organisms and humans. By looking at metabolome clocks, researchers aim to uncover how biological processes drive aging and identify targets that could improve health as we age. The study will leverage established animal models and human data to explore mechanisms behind aging markers, with the goal of translating findings into ways to monitor and potentially influence aging-related health. People may hear about how metabolic signals relate to aging and how this research could pave the way for future biomarkers or interventions.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify new metabolic markers of aging that help predict health risks and guide personalized care in aging populations.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work in model systems has shown metabolite clocks can relate to aging traits and interventions.

Where this research is happening

  • Tufts University Boston
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Promislow, Daniel Edward — Tufts University Boston
  • Study coordinator: Promislow, Daniel Edward

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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  • Understanding how aging affects immune cell function and metabolism

    This study is looking at how our immune system changes as we get older, especially how certain immune cells that help fight infections become less effective, and it's designed for older adults who want to understand more about their immune health.

    NIH research Georgia Institute of Technology · Atlanta, United States · NIH-10839917

  • 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.

    NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11638490

  • 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.

    NIH research University of Chicago · Chicago, United States · NIH-11623260

  • 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.

    NIH research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, United States · NIH-11623183

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.