Understanding how mitochondria handle stress
Official title: Mitochondrial inorganic polyphosphate in the mammalian stress response.
Funded at Rutgers the State Univ of Nj Camden · NIH-11117121 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how a molecule called polyphosphate helps mitochondria, the energy factories in our cells, cope with stress that happens in many human diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers the State Univ of Nj Camden NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Camden, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $391,296 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150799-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11117121 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with conditions involving mitochondrial dysfunction or cellular stress could potentially benefit from future treatments developed from this foundational understanding.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical intervention would not directly benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
Many human diseases involve problems with mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses inside our cells, especially when cells are under stress. However, we don't fully understand why mitochondria fail, which makes it hard to create effective treatments. This project focuses on a molecule called inorganic polyphosphate, which is found in mitochondria and seems to play a key role in how cells manage stress. By learning more about how polyphosphate works in mammalian cells, we hope to uncover new ways to protect mitochondria and improve health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for medicines to protect mitochondria and treat diseases linked to cellular stress.
How similar studies have gone: While polyphosphate's role in stress response is known in simpler organisms like bacteria and yeast, its exact mechanisms and full effects in human-like cells are still largely unknown, making this a novel exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers the State Univ of Nj Camden
Camden, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Solesio Torregrosa, Maria de la Encarnacion — Rutgers the State Univ of Nj Camden
- Study coordinator: Solesio Torregrosa, Maria de la Encarnacion
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Investigating how mitochondrial polyphosphate affects stress responses in mammals.
This study is looking at how a substance called inorganic polyphosphate helps our cells deal with stress, especially in the tiny energy factories called mitochondria, and it could lead to new treatments for diseases related to mitochondrial problems.
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.