The following are some of the projects currently underway in the Konopka lab:
Developing the common marmoset as a translational model of age-related osteoarthritis (R21 AG067464)
The goal of this NIH-funded study is to establish a new, non-human primate model that faithfully recapitulates naturally occurring osteoarthritis observed in the majority of older adults. We also aim to identify if mTOR and downstream targets are associated with the etiology and treatment of naturally occurring osteoarthritis.
Disentangling the contribution of mTOR complexes in age-related and post-traumatic osteoarthritis
The role of mTOR in osteoarthritis is incompletely understood. We aim to dissect the mechanisms by which mTOR mediates the onset and therapy of osteoarthritis using gain and loss of function experiments in tissue culture and animal models. ·
Does insulin sensitivity impact the potential of metformin to slow aging? (R01 AG064951; Subcontract)
In this NIH-funded, dual-site clinical trial, our goal is to determine if skeletal muscle mitochondrial remodeling and function serve as cellular mechanisms by which metformin regulates indices of healthspan in disease-free people. For more information about this study, please email the study coordinator.