# Project 3: Developmental programming-aging interactions in primate metabolism

> **NIH NIH U19** · UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING · 2021 · $266,110

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
As humans age, changes affecting nutrient utilization and storage often result in health complications, leading
to obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hepatic complications. These health
complications are more prominent with earlier onset when individuals were exposed to maternal obesity (MO)
or reduced nutrients during their own fetal development resulting in intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR). The
baboon is a well-characterized nonhuman primate (NHP) model to study human dyslipidemia and other
metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance and DM. Age-related co-morbidities develop in baboons as
in humans. We have developed a unique colony normal life course (NLC), IUGR and MO baboons. Our
scientific premises are: 1. Aging-related metabolic changes can be detected early in life. 2. Interactions
between developmental programming and aging are major determinants of metabolic control and energy
management. 3. Normative data and results from interventions addressing mechanisms of programming and
aging in NHP models are essential for translation of research findings to humans to develop therapies to
extend health span. We hypothesize that: Characteristic molecular signatures are predictive of metabolic
changes caused by perinatal programming (MO, IUGR, and cortisol replacement intervention (CRI)
accelerates age-related metabolic complications. We have 3 aims to address this hypothesis: Aim 1:
Characterize NLC aging in baboons ranging from young adult to middle-age adult (6-148 years; human
equivalent 18-90 years). We will use integrated omic approaches with cellular and physiological
measurements to quantify normal aging-related changes in liver, skeletal muscle, and blood. Aim 2:
Determine how in utero stresses impact metabolic aging. We will measure parameters described in Aim 1
in IUGR and MO baboons. Aim 3: Determine whether CRI alters the trajectory of metabolic changes that
occur with age. We will administer cortisol to NLC baboons for 4 years to determine whether CRI results in
age-related metabolic dysfunction. Project 3 is synergistic with integration of our findings and other organ
systems (Project 1 – brain; Project 2 – heart and vessels) towards the U19 goal of deriving a comprehensive
model for development and prediction of age-related health complications using our unique baboon models,
identify predictive molecular signatures, and explore interventions to delay metabolic aging. Project 3 is
innovative by integrating metabolic challenges, physiological measures, and cell bioenergetics with
comprehensive omic analyses to construct detailed molecular networks that change in normal aging in
metabolic tissues and are impacted by in utero stress and cortisol replacement intervention.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10201489
- **Project number:** 5U19AG057758-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
- **Principal Investigator:** Laura A Cox
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $266,110
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-30 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10201489

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10201489, Project 3: Developmental programming-aging interactions in primate metabolism (5U19AG057758-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10201489. Licensed CC0.

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