Rat model for understanding different forms of the telomerase enzyme (TERT)
Development of a Rat Model to Investigate the Physiology of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase alternative splicing isoforms
The team will make and compare two types of genetically modified rats to see how different versions of the telomerase enzyme affect aging-related health problems like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11326325 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient’s perspective, the researchers will build two kinds of transgenic rats: one carrying a full-length TERT gene and one carrying a naturally occurring, catalytically inactive TERT splice variant (β-deletion). They will study these rats' tissues and organs to measure mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and other markers tied to aging and blood-vessel and tissue health. The project uses genetic engineering, physiological testing, and molecular analyses to compare how each TERT form changes biology over time. Findings aim to show whether specific TERT splice forms help protect cells from age-related damage that contributes to heart disease, cancer, and metabolic problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll people now, but older adults with heart disease, elevated cancer risk, or type 2 diabetes could be the kinds of patients who might benefit from follow-on human trials informed by these results.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatments or those with health problems unrelated to aging, cardiovascular disease, cancer risk, or metabolic aging are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this animal-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how specific telomerase forms protect cells and point to new targets to slow age-related damage that contributes to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Cell and biochemical studies have suggested mitochondrial and protective roles for TERT variants, but generating and phenotyping animal models for these specific splice isoforms is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ludlow, Andrew Todd — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Ludlow, Andrew Todd
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 below.