Potent NAMPT activators to boost NAD+ for healthier aging
Official title: Improving healthspan through discovery of potent NAMPT activators from a DNA-encoded library
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11537701 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to find a powerful, safe compound that activates NAMPT to raise NAD+ levels and help counter aging-related health problems in aging mice.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $460,127 |
| NIH project number | 4R33AG074498-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11537701 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adults with aging-related health concerns or diseases linked to NAD+ metabolism who could participate in future translational studies or trials.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without age-related health issues or those unlikely to respond to NAMPT-targeted therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
As people age, NAD+ levels and sirtuin activity appear linked to aging and chronic diseases. This project will search for a potent NAMPT activator that can raise NAD+ in the body and test its effects in a preclinical mouse model. The team will screen compounds for potency, selectivity, and favorable ADME properties, then evaluate whether NAMPT activation improves age-related physiological functions. The goal is to develop a lead candidate that could slow age-related decline and disease in humans in future studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the NAMPT activator could become a new therapeutic approach to slow aging and reduce age-related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work has shown that NAMPT activation can influence NAD+ metabolism and aging-related processes, but no approved NAMPT-activating drugs exist yet.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Donato, Anthony John — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Donato, Anthony John
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.