Adipose tissue and inflammation in cutaneous leishmaniasis
Official title: Adipocytes and inflammation in the cutaneous leishmaniasis outcome
Funded at Federal University of Bahia · NIH-11398866 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how fat tissue and inflammatory signals affect skin ulcers in people with cutaneous leishmaniasis, aiming to uncover why obesity may worsen the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Federal University of Bahia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salvador, Brazil) |
| Project start | August 20, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $120,226 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI183392-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398866 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cutaneous leishmaniasis who are obese and undergoing treatment in Brazil may be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
Non-obese CL patients or those without adipose-related inflammation may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how adipose tissue and its signals, like leptin and lipid profiles, interact with the immune response during Leishmania braziliensis infection. They will analyze inflammatory cells in fat tissue from obese CL patients and examine how adipokines influence inflammation and healing. The project also looks at whether certain lipids can push macrophages toward a repair mode to improve outcomes. By linking adipose biology to disease severity, the work could reveal targets to reduce therapeutic failure in obese patients. The study is conducted in Brazil with timely relevance to patients who are affected by CL.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new ways to reduce skin ulcers and improve healing for obese CL patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work indicates inflammation and obesity can worsen CL, but this project adds adipose tissue–specific mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Federal University of Bahia
Salvador, Brazil Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carvalho, Lucas P — Federal University of Bahia
- Study coordinator: Carvalho, Lucas P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How body fat affects skin leishmaniasis outcomes
This project looks at how fat tissue and fat-related molecules change inflammation and healing in people with cutaneous leishmaniasis, especially those who are overweight or obese.
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How fat cells and inflammation affect skin infections caused by Leishmania
This study is looking at how being overweight might affect the healing of a skin infection called cutaneous leishmaniasis, by checking how fat cells and inflammation work together, and it aims to find ways to help people with this condition heal better and faster.
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Examining how social factors and healthcare programs affect HIV/AIDS in Brazil
This study looks at how things like money support, healthcare access, and social factors affect people living with HIV/AIDS in Brazil, aiming to find ways to improve their health and treatment outcomes.
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.