Understanding how different organs communicate during aging
Official title: Interorgan communication in aging in Drosophila
Funded at Harvard Medical School · NIH-11086063 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how different organs talk to each other as they get older and how that affects our metabolism and health, using fruit flies to find out more about aging and its connection to diseases, which could help us discover ways to improve health as we age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $586,459 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AG086143-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11086063 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals interested in the biological mechanisms of aging and potential interventions to improve health in older age.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute conditions unrelated to aging or metabolic disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the communication between different organs as they age, focusing on how this affects metabolism and overall health. By using advanced techniques like single-cell transcriptomics and metabolomics in fruit flies, the study aims to uncover how aging alters metabolic processes and how these changes can be linked to age-related diseases. The findings could provide insights into potential interventions that could improve health outcomes in aging populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating age-related health decline and diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in understanding inter-organ communication and aging, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Medical School
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Perrimon, Norbert — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Perrimon, Norbert
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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.