Creating advanced fat cells to understand obesity and diabetes
Official title: Novel Adipocyte Engineering Technology for Modeling Adipocyte Dysfunction in Human Obesity
Funded at Mellicell, INC. · NIH-10924548 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to create fat cells that mimic those found in people with obesity, which will help us understand how these cells affect weight and conditions like diabetes, ultimately aiming to find better treatments for these issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mellicell, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 9, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $295,923 |
| NIH project number | 1R43DK137676-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10924548 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are experiencing obesity or related metabolic disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not affected by obesity or metabolic disorders may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new technology to create mature fat cells that accurately represent the characteristics of human obesity. By using a proprietary platform, the researchers aim to generate both normal and obese-like fat cells, which will help in understanding how these cells contribute to obesity and related conditions like diabetes. The study will explore the mechanisms of appetite control and energy expenditure, which are crucial for developing effective treatments. Patients may benefit from insights gained through this research that could lead to new therapeutic approaches for obesity and diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative treatments for obesity and diabetes by improving our understanding of fat cell function.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced cell engineering techniques to study obesity, indicating that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Mellicell, INC.
Newton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pope, Benjamin Daniel — Mellicell, INC.
- Study coordinator: Pope, Benjamin Daniel
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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.