Preserving muscle power by keeping mitochondria healthy during extreme fasting
Official title: Preservation of mitochondrial mass in a translational model of prolonged fasting and atrophy resistance
Funded at University of Alaska Fairbanks · NIH-11425227 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant explores how a bear’s ability to resist muscle loss during long fasting could help people who are bedridden or recovering from critical illness keep their muscles stronger.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alaska Fairbanks NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fairbanks, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $193,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R16GM165739-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11425227 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be patients and elderly individuals at high risk of muscle atrophy due to immobility or prolonged illness.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are healthy and mobile are unlikely to directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will study how fasting and cold exposure help bear muscles retain mitochondria, then translate those findings toward preventing muscle loss in people who are immobile or recovering from serious illness. The project looks at tiny cellular processes like biogenesis and mitophagy that control mitochondrial health in muscle tissue. By using a translational model based on bears, scientists hope to identify new strategies to maintain muscle function when activity is limited. The work aims to move toward practical therapies that support muscle mass and energy production in patients at risk of atrophy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new ways to preserve muscle mass and function in people who are bedbound or recovering from critical illness.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in animals and early translational efforts have shown relationships between mitochondrial health and muscle preservation, with ongoing exploration in human contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rice, Sarah — University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Study coordinator: Rice, Sarah
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Intermittent Fasting to Boost Fracture Healing in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
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Intermittent fasting and nutrition counseling to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes
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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.