Mitochondrial quality control and bone health in aging and estrogen loss
Official title: Role of Mitochondrial Quality Control in Bone Homeostasis and Disease
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-11377419 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how mitochondria in bone cells affect bone loss that happens with aging and low estrogen, with the goal of finding ways to protect bone strength.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $319,770 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR080736-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377419 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults at risk for osteoporosis due to aging or estrogen deficiency and who could benefit from therapies targeting bone cell mitochondria.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without osteoporosis risk factors or those unlikely to respond to mitochondrial-targeted bone therapies may see little benefit.
What this research studies
In this project, researchers will look at how mitochondrial quality control in osteoblasts and osteoclasts influences bone mass during aging and estrogen deficiency. They will investigate the role of Sirt3, a mitochondrial deacetylase, in controlling biogenesis, dynamics, and mitophagy, and how changes in Sirt3 activity affect bone remodeling. The work combines animal models and molecular analyses to connect mitochondrial health with bone resorption and formation. Outcomes could reveal new targets to prevent osteoporosis by preserving mitochondrial function in bone cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to therapies that maintain bone strength by protecting mitochondrial health in bone cells.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has produced mixed results on Sirt3’s role, but the project already shows that altering Sirt3 can impact bone loss in aging and estrogen deficiency models.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Ha-Neui — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Kim, Ha-Neui
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.