Blood fatty acids as a simple early warning for insulin resistance
Official title: Testing a blood fatty acid algorithm as an earlier and easier predictor of insulin resistance
Funded at Omegaquant Analytics, LLC · NIH-11406411 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly blood test using fatty acids to predict who might develop insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, so people can take action sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Omegaquant Analytics, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sioux Falls, United States) |
| Project start | May 22, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,038,181 |
| NIH project number | 2R44DK136409-02A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406411 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who are at risk for prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, particularly those who have blood glucose in the prediabetes range or are concerned about insulin resistance.
✕Less likely to help
People without elevated risk markers or those who would not benefit from early biomarker-based risk prediction may not see a direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to use a blood-fat profile to flag people at high risk for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes before high blood sugar appears. It leverages machine learning and clinical lab measurements to identify patterns that predict future hyperglycemia. The goal is to offer an accessible, inexpensive way to identify at-risk individuals and guide lifestyle or medical steps to prevent disease progression. The work is conducted by OmegaQuant Analytics, a clinical lab with expertise in fatty acid testing, in collaboration with a university-affiliated team. It builds on prior Phase I findings suggesting blood fatty acids can signal risk years ahead of traditional tests.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enable earlier lifestyle changes and interventions to prevent or delay diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work and the Phase I project indicate potential in using fatty acid patterns to predict risk, with promising but still early results.
Where this research is happening
-
Omegaquant Analytics, LLC
Sioux Falls, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jackson, Kristina Harris — Omegaquant Analytics, LLC
- Study coordinator: Jackson, Kristina Harris
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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.