Reducing Inflammation to Improve Healthy Aging
Impacting Inflammation through Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (imTOR)
This project looks at how a medication called everolimus might help reduce inflammation in middle-aged and older adults to improve their overall health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180387 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many inflammatory diseases can shorten the time we spend in good health as we age. This project is an additional part of a larger ongoing trial called EVERLAST, which is testing a medication similar to rapamycin, called everolimus. The EVERLAST trial is giving low doses of everolimus to see if it can improve various aspects of healthy aging, like metabolism and muscle function. Our specific project, imTOR, will focus on understanding how everolimus affects chronic inflammation within immune cells. By studying these effects, we hope to learn more about how this medication can help people maintain their health longer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are middle-aged to older adults who are generally healthy but are overweight or obese and have insulin resistance, as they are eligible for the parent EVERLAST trial.
Not a fit: Patients who are not middle-aged to older adults, are not overweight/obese, or do not have insulin resistance may not directly benefit from this specific research focus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to reduce chronic inflammation and extend the period of life spent in good health for older adults.
How similar studies have performed: The parent EVERLAST trial is currently underway, and rapamycin-like drugs have shown promise in other contexts for their effects on aging and metabolism.
Where this research is happening
Lexington, United States
- University of Kentucky — Lexington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nikolajczyk, Barbara — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Nikolajczyk, Barbara
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.