Targeting tissue-specific cell energy balance to understand aging
Official title: Using a xenotopic approach to manipulate redox metabolism in a tissue- and compartment-specific manner to study aging
Funded at Scintillon Institute for Photobiology · NIH-11357281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses new genetic tools to change key energy-related molecules inside cells in specific tissues to help find ways to protect people from aging-related diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scintillon Institute for Photobiology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $501,160 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG101323-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11357281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who are older or at elevated risk for aging-related conditions like cancer or heart disease are the ones most likely to benefit from future therapies informed by this work.
✕Less likely to help
People whose illnesses arise from causes unrelated to cellular redox or advanced irreversible damage may not benefit from approaches based on this work.
What this research studies
Researchers will build genetically encoded tools that can change the balance of redox cofactors (NADH/NAD+ and NADPH/NADP+) inside particular tissues and parts of cells in fruit flies. These tools will be expressed in different organs and cellular compartments so we can see how local changes in cell energy chemistry affect signs of aging and disease-related processes. The team will measure biochemical redox changes, cellular function, and organism-level outcomes to validate the approach. Findings will guide whether targeting redox metabolism in specific tissues could be useful for future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to precise metabolic targets for slowing age-related decline and lowering the risk of diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
How similar studies have gone: Systemic NAD-modulating approaches have shown effects on aging in animals, but the proposed tissue- and compartment-specific genetic control is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Scintillon Institute for Photobiology
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cracan, Valentin — Scintillon Institute for Photobiology
- Study coordinator: Cracan, Valentin
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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.