Understanding how aging affects muscle repair
Official title: Stem Cell Dysfunction in Aged Skeletal Muscle
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-10918347 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our muscles lose strength as we get older and aims to find out how special cells in our muscles can help repair them after injury, which could lead to better treatments for keeping muscles healthy in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $543,123 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR080753-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10918347 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing muscle weakness or loss of muscle mass.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 21 or do not have issues related to muscle repair may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the decline in muscle function as we age, focusing on the role of muscle stem cells (MuSCs) in muscle repair. The study aims to uncover the signals that activate these stem cells, which are crucial for repairing muscle tissue after injury. By exploring a newly discovered activation program driven by a specific transcription factor, the research seeks to enhance the regenerative potential of aged muscle stem cells. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to new therapies for improving muscle health in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that enhance muscle repair and strength in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in enhancing muscle repair through stem cell activation, making this approach a potentially valuable advancement.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Almada, Albert Ernesto — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Almada, Albert Ernesto
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
RNA dysregulation in a rare childhood brain disorder (PCH1b)
Researchers are studying a rare genetic brain disease in young children to understand how RNA processing goes wrong and leads to damage in the cerebellum and brainstem.
-
Studying how diverse signals come from similar molecules at glutamatergic synapses
A project at a university explores how synapses in the brain create different signals from a shared set of molecules, using a fruit-fly model to understand how this could relate to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
-
How brain chemicals may influence tau clumps in Alzheimer’s disease
A study from USC explores how certain brain chemicals might influence the clumping of tau protein related to Alzheimer’s disease, aiming to identify factors that could affect disease progression.
-
GLP-1 medicines and brain health: real-world clues about dementia risk
A nationwide study will follow adults 21 and older using GLP-1 medicines to see how these drugs relate to memory, thinking, and dementia risk in real life.
-
Male pesticide exposure and reproductive health through epigenetics
This project looks at how a man’s exposure to pesticides might affect his fertility and the health of his future children through changes in DNA.
-
Global effort to harmonize fMRI findings in psychiatry
A large, international effort will standardize how brain MRI data are collected and analyzed in people with various mental health conditions to improve consistency and discovery.
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.