Study of Muscle, Mobility, and Aging: SOMMA2
Official title: Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging: SOMMA2
Funded at California Pacific Med Ctr Res Institute · NIH-11399363 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study in older adults to understand how muscle changes relate to mobility, disability, dementia, and death.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Pacific Med Ctr Res Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $15,641,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG059416-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399363 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults who are enrolled in or eligible for the SOMMA cohorts and are able to undergo muscle biopsy and longitudinal assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Participants who do not experience mobility decline may have limited direct personal benefit from the study.
What this research studies
SOMMA2 builds on a previous cohort to enroll 650 additional participants and examine how muscle biology and blood markers relate to age-related declines in power and fitness. The study will collect muscle tissue, blood samples, and detailed functional data over time, including muscle biopsies and transcriptomic analyses. Researchers aim to identify biological pathways in aging that predict loss of independence and other serious outcomes, with a focus on mitochondrial function, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and cell senescence. This work could pave the way for future interventions to preserve mobility and health in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new strategies to prevent mobility disability and improve quality of life for aging individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous SOMMA findings have linked muscle biology to mobility outcomes, with ongoing work expanding these insights.
Where this research is happening
-
California Pacific Med Ctr Res Institute
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cummings, Steven Ron — California Pacific Med Ctr Res Institute
- Study coordinator: Cummings, Steven Ron
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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.