Mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis and how it controls energy and metabolism
Official title: Regulation of mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis in the control of mitochondrial metabolism.
Funded at Van Andel Research Institute · NIH-11308647 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how mitochondria manufacture fatty acids and how that process helps control the cell’s energy production and metabolism, which could shed light on diseases linked to mitochondrial function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Van Andel Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Grand Rapids, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $475,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM151245-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11308647 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with mitochondrial or metabolic disorders where mitochondrial lipid synthesis may be altered, or researchers seeking to translate basic mtFAS findings to human health.
✕Less likely to help
People without mitochondrial or metabolic concerns are unlikely to directly benefit from this basic biology project.
What this research studies
The project focuses on the mitochondria’s own fatty acid synthesis pathway (mtFAS) and how it coordinates key mitochondrial tasks like energy production and iron-sulfur cluster formation. The researchers will map how mtFAS responds to acetyl-CoA levels and influences the TCA cycle and electron transport chain. By studying cultured cells and mitochondrial biology, they aim to uncover fundamental rules governing mitochondrial metabolism. Insights from this work could illuminate how disruptions in mtFAS contribute to human diseases involving energy and lipid regulation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding mtFAS could lead to new approaches for treating diseases rooted in mitochondrial dysfunction and lipid metabolism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown mtFAS coordinates mitochondrial processes, suggesting this line of research could yield actionable insights, but much remains to be clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Van Andel Research Institute
Grand Rapids, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nowinski, Sara Marie — Van Andel Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Nowinski, Sara Marie
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.