Role of Depp1 in muscle loss and weakness
Official title: Role of Depp1 in muscle atrophy
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11268416 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at a major hospital is exploring whether a protein called Depp1 drives muscle loss when muscles don’t get enough nutrients or oxygen, with the aim of finding ways to prevent this wasting.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 2, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $585,012 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AR086784-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11268416 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with muscle wasting conditions or diseases involving reduced muscle mass may benefit from future therapies emerging from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without muscle wasting or related conditions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This NIH-funded project looks at how muscles turn on a program that breaks down proteins when nutrients or oxygen are scarce. Researchers will focus on a protein called Depp1, which is turned on by key regulators and may trigger autophagy and muscle atrophy. The team will use muscle samples and animal models to see if Depp1 is necessary and sufficient to cause muscle loss, and they will map how it connects to the FoxO and HIF pathways. The goal is to better understand the mechanisms of muscle wasting so future therapies can keep muscles healthy under stress.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify Depp1 as a target to prevent or treat muscle wasting.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research links FoxO/HIF signaling to muscle atrophy and autophagy, with Depp1 emerging as a potential mediator in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wyant, Greg — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Wyant, Greg
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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.