Nucleus-to-mitochondria DNA sensing and aging-related cell barriers
Official title: A nucleus-to-mitochondria nucleic acid-sensing pathway prevents bypass of age-associated proliferative boundaries
Funded at Salk Institute for Biological Studies · NIH-11378263 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how our cells sense DNA in the wrong place to stop aging cells from dividing, and what goes wrong in aging that can lead to cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salk Institute for Biological Studies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $613,282 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG077324-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378263 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participation in this basic science grant.
✕Less likely to help
This project does not involve direct patient participation or trials.
What this research studies
This project looks at how cells prevent immortality by stopping division when telomeres are short or when cells face crisis. It focuses on the DNA-sensing systems that involve mitochondria and the cGAS-STING pathway, and how autophagy influences whether cells stay arrested or die. By using CRISPR screens and molecular biology techniques, the study aims to map how these pathways interact to protect against age-related tumor formation. The work is aimed at understanding aging at the cellular level with potential implications for cancer prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how aging cells are kept in check could inform new strategies to prevent age-related cancers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked DNA sensing and autophagy to cell fate during aging, but this project explores their interaction in depth, which is still an emerging area.
Where this research is happening
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Salk Institute for Biological Studies
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karlseder, Jan — Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- Study coordinator: Karlseder, Jan
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.