Understanding how muscles work and their properties in living organisms
Official title: Characterizing Motor Unit Mechanics and Muscle Contractile Properties In Vivo
Funded at New Jersey Institute of Technology · NIH-10704186 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new ways to see how muscles work while you move, especially for people with conditions like ALS, to help doctors understand muscle health better and catch any problems sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New Jersey Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $200,266 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AR079650-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10704186 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with neuromuscular diseases, particularly those with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-neuromuscular conditions or those who do not have muscle contractility issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new techniques to measure how muscles contract and function in real-time, particularly in patients with neuromuscular diseases like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). By using advanced methods that can be applied in clinical settings, the study aims to provide better insights into muscle mechanics and potentially identify disease onset earlier. The researchers will explore both neural and muscular interactions to gain a comprehensive understanding of muscle function during voluntary movements.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier detection and better tracking of neuromuscular diseases, improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using in vivo techniques for muscle characterization is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in understanding muscle mechanics in other contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Son, Jongsang — New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Son, Jongsang
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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.