Mitochondria and blood markers linked to heart disease and aging
Mitochondrial Function and Multiomics in Aging-related Disease: Identifying Novel Biomarkers and Causal Relationships
This project looks at whether changes in mitochondrial DNA and blood proteins/metabolites relate to heart disease, mortality, and frailty in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324308 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers will analyze genetic and blood data already collected from hundreds of thousands of people to find signals tied to mitochondrial health and aging-related conditions. They will measure mitochondrial DNA copy number and sequence changes (both inherited and somatic), and link those measures to plasma metabolite and protein levels. The team will use genetic methods called Mendelian randomization to help separate likely causal links from simple associations, and will try to replicate findings across large cohorts like the UK Biobank and TOPMed. This work uses existing samples and data, so it will not involve new treatments for participants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with cardiovascular disease, older adults at risk of frailty, or people already enrolled in large biobanks with stored blood and genetic data are the most relevant groups.
Not a fit: Children, people without available genetic or blood samples, and anyone seeking immediate treatment will not directly benefit from this observational analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal blood biomarkers related to mitochondrial function that help predict risk of heart disease, death, or frailty and point to new targets for therapy.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked mitochondrial DNA copy number to aging-related conditions, but this large-scale multi-omics and Mendelian randomization approach is novel at this size.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arking, Dan E — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Arking, Dan E
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.