Muscle wasting in cachexia and how to protect muscle health
Official title: Muscle Fibrosis in Cachexia
Funded at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab · NIH-11404037 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how muscle fibrosis and inflammation affect cachexia in cancer and other chronic diseases, focusing on a new mouse model to understand why some treatments stop working.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $168,912 |
| NIH project number | 5K08AR081391-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404037 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with cancer or chronic diseases experiencing cachexia who could benefit from antifibrotic or anti-inflammatory strategies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cachexia or those not involved in future translational studies may not benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Cachexia causes muscle loss alongside systemic inflammation and worsens with disease progression. The project uses a novel mouse model with extended lifespan to separate early and refractory phases of cachexia and to study how fibrosis in muscle tissue influences response to therapy. It will test anti-IL-6 and anti-fibrosis treatments to see their effects on muscle mechanics at different disease stages. The work aims to uncover whether muscle fibrosis acts as a barrier to treatment effectiveness in refractory cachexia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide new therapies that prevent or overcome treatment resistance in cachexia, potentially preserving muscle function for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show inflammation and fibrosis contribute to muscle wasting, but this project uses a novel model to distinguish early and refractory phases and test combination therapies.
Where this research is happening
-
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roy, Ishan — Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
- Study coordinator: Roy, Ishan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Investigating muscle fibrosis in patients with cachexia
This study is looking at how muscle scarring affects treatment responses in patients with severe muscle loss from cancer and other chronic diseases, and it aims to find better ways to help these patients feel stronger and improve their muscle function.
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Mitochondrial pores and muscle loss in cancer cachexia
A small US-based study will explore how changes in mitochondria contribute to muscle wasting in people with cancer cachexia and how this may be slowed.
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CANCAN: A Virtual Institute to Cure Cancer Cachexia
A broad, collaborative NIH initiative aims to uncover why cancer patients lose weight and muscle and to develop new ways to treat this serious condition.
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.