# Mitochondrial Function and Multiomics in Aging-related Disease: Identifying Novel Biomarkers and Causal Relationships

> **NIH AG R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2026 · $667,018

## Abstract

Mitochondria play an essential role in cellular function and impact human health through varied mechanisms,
including energy metabolism, cell signaling, and apoptosis. We have previously demonstrated that mitochondrial
DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN), which reflects some aspects of mitochondrial function, can readily be measured
from DNA extracted from buffy coat, and is associated with various aging-related diseases and phenotypes. The
recent availability of whole-genome sequence (WGS) data in large biobanks, along with plasma metabolomics
and proteomics, vastly expands the ability to assess mitochondrial function in large sample sizes. Specifically,
we hypothesize that a comprehensive assessment of mtDNA variation, including mtDNA-CN, homoplasmy
(inherited variation), and heteroplasmy (somatic variation) in 680,000 subjects, combined with
metabolomics/proteomics, will identify novel causal associations between mitochondrial function and all-cause
mortality, CVD, and frailty. To test this hypothesis we will first identify plasma metabolites/proteins associated
with mitochondrial function. We focus on identifying metabolites/proteins associated with mtDNA sequence
variation, leveraging the concept of Mendelian randomization (MR) to avoid confounding. We will study omics
measured in up to 300,000 UK Biobank (UKB) participants, with validation in TOPMed samples (n~25,000), and
compare associations with mtDNA sequence variation to those for mtDNA-CN. Biomarkers associated with
mtDNA genetic variation and not mtDNA-CN will be considered orthogonal biomarkers. Second, we will stablish
phenotypic associations between biomarkers of mitochondrial function and aging-related diseases. We will
determine the association of mitochondrial function biomarker with all-cause mortality, CVD, CVD risk factors,
and frailty in UKB samples, with validation in TOPMed samples. We will also explore multivariable models looking
for potential interactions between the various measures of mitochondr

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11324308
- **Project number:** 5R01AG085753-03
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Dan E Arking
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** AG
- **Fiscal year:** 2026
- **Award amount:** $667,018
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2024-08-15T00:00:00 → 2028-04-30T00:00:00

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11324308

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11324308, Mitochondrial Function and Multiomics in Aging-related Disease: Identifying Novel Biomarkers and Causal Relationships (5R01AG085753-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-07-07 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11324308. Licensed CC0.

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