Understanding how cell parts communicate to slow aging
Official title: Novel mitochondria-to-lysosome crosstalk contributes to lysosomal dysfunction during aging
Funded at Buck Institute for Research on Aging · NIH-11145068 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how tiny parts within our cells, called mitochondria and lysosomes, talk to each other, and how this communication changes as we get older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Buck Institute for Research on Aging NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Novato, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $475,300 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG082824-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11145068 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation at this stage, but future studies building on this knowledge may seek individuals interested in aging research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment for specific conditions will not directly benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
As we age, the tiny compartments inside our cells, called organelles, start to break down and lose their connections. This project focuses on how mitochondria and lysosomes, two important organelles, interact. We've found a new way these two parts communicate, which helps explain why lysosomes become less effective with age. This breakdown in communication contributes to problems with how cells clean themselves, a process linked to aging and many age-related diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to understand and potentially slow down the cellular aging process and related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds on recent discoveries about inter-organelle interactions, exploring novel connections between mitochondria and lysosomes that have not been widely studied in the context of aging.
Where this research is happening
-
Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Novato, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhou, Chuankai — Buck Institute for Research on Aging
- Study coordinator: Zhou, Chuankai
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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.