Reducing age-related liver damage and cancer by targeting mitochondrial stress
Project 1: The role of mitochondrial stress in liver aging and cancer progression and intervention via oxidative mitohormesis
This project looks at whether tuning cells' mitochondrial stress responses can slow liver aging and lower the chance of liver cancer in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160731 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work explores how mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation drive liver aging and the earliest steps toward liver cancer. Researchers will study cells, animal models, and human tissue samples to measure mitochondrial function, DNA damage, and mtDNA-related inflammatory signals. They plan to test an approach called oxidative mitohormesis — a controlled, beneficial mitochondrial stress response — to see if it prevents or delays liver decline and cancer-like changes. Human involvement could include providing tissue samples or taking part in observational efforts at the research center.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults with age-related liver dysfunction, cirrhosis, or elevated risk for liver cancer who can provide tissue samples or join observational studies.
Not a fit: Younger people, individuals without liver-related conditions, or those seeking immediate therapeutic treatment for advanced cancer are unlikely to benefit directly from this translational/basic research project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new ways to slow liver aging and reduce the risk or early development of liver cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Prior cell and animal studies suggest that mild mitochondrial stress can improve liver function and delay aspects of aging, but translating oxidative mitohormesis to prevent human liver cancer is largely untested.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shadel, Gerald — Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Study coordinator: Shadel, Gerald
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.