METTL3 — a molecule that may affect muscle aging
METTL3 in regulation of the aging process
Researchers will test whether changing levels of a molecule called METTL3 can help prevent or reverse age-related muscle loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11371152 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you follow this work, you'll learn how researchers change levels of a molecule called METTL3 to see how it affects aging muscles. They will study a chemical tag on messenger RNA (called m6A) that controls how muscle-building proteins are made. The team will use muscle aging models with techniques that increase or decrease METTL3 and will examine proteins that read m6A tags. They will also test whether boosting m6A can reduce muscle wasting in animal models that mimic human sarcopenia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with age-related muscle weakness or sarcopenia would be the most likely candidates for related future trials.
Not a fit: People whose muscle problems are caused by acute injury, congenital muscle diseases, or non-aging neurological conditions may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that slow or reverse sarcopenia and improve strength in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Work on METTL3 and m6A is an active area of basic research, but using this approach to treat muscle aging is largely preclinical and not yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Brown University — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Accornero, Federica — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Accornero, Federica
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 below.