A nanodrug to improve gut and liver health in adults with type 2 diabetes
Official title: A Novel Nanodrug for Metabolic Disease Treatment
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11367805 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new orally delivered nanodrug called PRORA aims to restore healthy gut signaling to help people with type 2 diabetes and related liver and cancer risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $803,565 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK140492-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367805 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with or at high risk for metabolic dysfunction and type 2 diabetes who may benefit from gut-liver axis–targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
If you do not have metabolic dysfunction or gut-liver signaling issues, this specific drug candidate may not be applicable.
What this research studies
This project develops and tests an oral nanodrug designed to correct disrupted gut-liver signaling linked to metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. It uses retinoic acid–HDAC inhibitor combos built into a self-assembling nanomaterial to target the gut microbiome and liver pathways. Researchers will synthesize the compound, characterize its behavior in models, and evaluate safety and potential activity in relevant systems to support future human testing. By addressing gut dysbiosis and signaling imbalances, the work aims to reduce complications associated with obesity-related metabolic disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve metabolic health and reduce risk factors for liver and colorectal cancers in people with type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that HDAC inhibitors and retinoic acid signaling can modulate gut-liver pathways; this specific nanodrug is novel in its design and delivery.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wan, Yu-Jui Yvonne — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Wan, Yu-Jui Yvonne
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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.