A new drug delivery system for obesity and type 2 diabetes
Macrophage-Targeted Drug Delivery Depot for Obesity and Comorbid Type 2 Diabetes
This project is developing a new way to deliver medicine directly to fat tissue to help people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124933 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many adults live with obesity, which can lead to type 2 diabetes and other health issues, partly due to inflammation in fat tissue caused by certain immune cells called macrophages. Our previous work showed that tiny drug carriers could deliver medicine to these macrophages in animal models, leading to weight loss and improved diabetes without changing how much they ate. Now, we are creating a long-lasting drug delivery system, like a small implant, to specifically target these immune cells in fat. This new system aims to be easy for patients to use and will also involve developing new imaging methods to track its effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is ultimately for adults living with obesity and type 2 diabetes who may benefit from new non-surgical treatment options.
Not a fit: Patients whose obesity or diabetes is not linked to inflammation in fat tissue may not receive benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new delivery system could offer a non-surgical way to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes by reducing inflammation in fat tissue.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work with similar drug carriers in animal models has shown promising results in reducing weight and reversing diabetic symptoms.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Andrew Michael — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Smith, Andrew Michael
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 below.