Understanding How Muscle Stem Cells Repair and Maintain Muscles
Replicative Potential of Muscle Stem Cells
This project explores how special cells in our muscles, called stem cells, divide and repair muscle tissue, which could help us understand muscle loss in aging and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124886 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our muscles are constantly maintained and repaired by special cells called satellite cells, which act like stem cells. When we get older, or if we have certain muscle diseases, these satellite cells don't work as well, leading to muscle weakness and loss of mobility. This research aims to understand how these muscle stem cells divide and renew themselves, especially a process called 'asymmetric division' which is crucial for keeping muscles healthy. By learning more about this process, we hope to find ways to keep our muscles strong and functional as we age or face muscle-related conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is most relevant to individuals experiencing muscle weakness or loss of mobility due to aging, injury, or neuromuscular diseases.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatments or direct intervention for their muscle conditions may not receive direct benefit from this foundational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that help maintain muscle strength and improve mobility for people experiencing muscle weakness due to aging or disease.
How similar studies have performed: While some studies have shown that improving muscle stem cell function can enhance muscle strength, this project focuses on a fundamental aspect of how these cells divide, which is not yet fully understood.
Where this research is happening
Boulder, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado — Boulder, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Olwin, Bradley B — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Olwin, Bradley B
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 below.