Somatic mutations and aging in healthy people
Official title: Somatic mutation rates in healthy aging
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11332960 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Huge questions about aging may be unlocked by looking at tiny DNA changes in blood from healthy people over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $685,912 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG081622-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332960 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative and Cancer Prevention Study II cohorts, with stored blood samples and health data.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals outside these cohorts or without accessible health data may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project will use ultra-high fidelity sequencing to measure somatic mutation rates in blood samples from long-term cohorts. Researchers will compare mutation patterns with health data, aging markers, and lifestyle factors to find possible links to aging and disease. The study builds on decades of data from the Women’s Health Initiative and Cancer Prevention Study II to understand how these mutations vary between individuals and what may modify them. Results could help identify clues about how aging happens and who might be at higher risk for age-related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal biomarkers of aging and opportunities for personalized prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: This approach is novel in measuring SMRs at population scale with linked health data, building on emerging sequencing capabilities.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shoag, Jonathan — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Shoag, Jonathan
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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.