A new molecule that helps muscle strength and metabolism
Official title: Identifying a novel player in skeletal muscle performance and metabolism
Funded at Ohio University Athens · NIH-11286834 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is finding out if a protein called FSP27 helps muscles work better and improves insulin control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio University Athens NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $589,326 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK138635-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11286834 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with type 2 diabetes who are willing to undergo exercise testing and provide muscle samples for research.
✕Less likely to help
People without type 2 diabetes or those unwilling to participate in muscle testing or biopsies are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how FSP27 affects muscle performance by using specially engineered mice that carry the human version of the protein and by comparing those results with human muscle data. They will measure muscle strength, endurance, and how muscle cells use stored fat and respond to insulin. The team will collect human muscle samples and exercise-related measurements to link laboratory findings to people. Together these steps aim to show whether muscle FSP27 could be a target to improve muscle function and blood sugar control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to improve muscle strength and insulin control for people with type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Early human correlations and mouse knockout data link FSP27 to muscle fitness, but using muscle-targeted FSP27 to improve strength and insulin action is a new approach not yet proven in people.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio University Athens
Athens, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Puri, Vishwajeet — Ohio University Athens
- Study coordinator: Puri, Vishwajeet
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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.