Regulating fat signaling lipids to boost aging muscle health
Official title: Regulation of eicosanoid signaling lipids to improve skeletal muscle function and increase healthspan during aging
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11582565 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how fat-derived signaling molecules control muscle growth and health as we age, with the aim of helping people maintain strength and mobility.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $386,677 |
| NIH project number | 2R56AG069858-05A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11582565 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aging around 60 and older who are at risk for or experiencing sarcopenia and related muscle weakness.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without muscle weakness or aging-related muscle loss may not benefit from these interventions.
What this research studies
As we get older, our muscles don’t respond as well to workouts, which can lead to sarcopenia. The project looks at cellular signals in aging muscle and tests ways to adjust these signals so muscles can grow stronger again. Researchers have found that a molecule called PGE2 and an enzyme that breaks it down (a gerozyme) influence muscle aging, and this grant plans to further test these targets to improve muscle function. The work combines lab studies with potential approaches that could become therapies to support muscle health in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to therapies that help older adults gain or preserve muscle mass and strength.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work in animal models suggests manipulating gerozymes and PGE2 pathways can improve muscle strength, supporting potential benefit in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blau, Helen M — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Blau, Helen M
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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.