$3.69 million NIH grant to advance healthy aging research awarded to UAB

Liou Y. Sun, M.D., Ph.D.Aging and age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's and heart disease, are major challenges affecting millions of people across the nation. The National Institutes of Health has awarded $3.69 million to Liou Y. Sun, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to study the impact of ceramide levels on age-related diseases.

With the support of this grant, Sun's research team, in collaboration with leading experts, aims to mitigate the risk of age-related diseases, striving to extend lifespans and improve quality of life.

"We aim to uncover fundamental mechanisms that will lead to novel treatments for mitigating the negative effects of aging," Sun said. "Our research will lay the foundation for translating our findings into new therapies that could benefit human health."

Sun's project, "Targeting Ceramide Signaling: Enhancing Healthy Aging and Combating Tauopathy in Mammals," will explore how fat molecules called ceramides and growth hormone signaling can improve health during aging.

"This project represents a significant step toward understanding and combating the biological mechanisms of aging," Sun said. "I am excited about the transformative impact of this research that will bridge the gap between basic science and clinical applications."

Sun hypothesizes that reducing ceramide levels, which may interact with growth hormone pathways, can enhance overall health and extend lifespan.

"Using innovative models and promising drug candidates, we aim to understand whether controlling ceramide levels can promote healthy aging and protect against conditions like Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders," Sun said.