Targeting how the cell’s recycling factories change shape to support healthy aging
Official title: Targeting Mechanisms of Organelle Remodeling to Promote Healthy Aging
Funded at Tufts University Boston · NIH-11396269 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Tufts University Boston is exploring how organelles called peroxisomes change their shape and function during fasting to support lipid metabolism and healthy aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $244,338 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AG078343-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396269 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults interested in aging research or metabolic health, especially those open to participating in future studies related to metabolism and longevity.
✕Less likely to help
Current participants not directly studying or improving a specific disease may not receive immediate clinical benefits.
What this research studies
Peroxisomes are tiny cell parts that help process fats, and this project looks at how their structure and activity adapt when we fast. The researchers will use fasting conditions to see how peroxisomes remodel and how that affects fat oxidation and cellular energy. They aim to uncover mechanisms behind metabolic flexibility and longevity, with a focus on peroxisomal protein import and its role in fatty acid processing. The work combines cellular biology in a fasting context to connect organelle dynamics with aging biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to promote metabolic health and longevity through better understanding of peroxisome dynamics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that organelle remodeling can influence metabolism, but the direct link to aging and fasting-related peroxisome dynamics is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Boston
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharma, Arpit — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Sharma, Arpit
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
MyGoals for Healthy Aging among people at risk for Alzheimer’s dementia
A multi-center trial tests whether a combined program addressing poverty-related stress and executive function can slow aging and reduce risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease in adults.
-
Healthy aging in Black adults and its links to dementia risk
This grant follows a large group of Black adults to understand how aging, brain health, and life experiences influence Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
-
How early-life spending shape aging and dementia risk later in life
A Stanford-led study looks at how state and county spending in childhood may influence midlife thinking skills and the risk of dementia in later life.
-
Costa Rica long-lived older adults follow-up (Wave 4)
We will re-contact Costa Rican adults aged 70 and older (and their spouses) to collect health, thinking, and blood information to find what helps people live longer and stay mentally sharp.
-
Mapping tiny blood vessels in the brain's memory area and how they relate to Alzheimer's changes
Researchers are using ultra-high-resolution brain scans and tissue staining to map tiny blood vessels in the entorhinal cortex to learn how those patterns relate to Alzheimer's disease.
-
The chemical language of human gut bacteria and aging
A Duke University study will look at how healthy aging is linked to molecules produced by gut bacteria, with a focus on people who might be at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
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.