Creating new insulin treatments from cone snail venom
Official title: Discovery and design of novel insulin evologs from venomous marine cone snails
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-11081644 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new types of insulin made from the venom of marine cone snails to help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar more effectively and quickly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $391,024 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK139317-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11081644 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who struggle with current insulin therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have diabetes or those whose diabetes is well-managed with existing treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing novel insulin analogs derived from the venom of marine cone snails to improve diabetes management. The approach involves studying how these unique venoms interact with insulin receptors to create faster-acting and more effective insulin therapies. By leveraging advanced techniques and insights from evolutionary biology, the research aims to overcome current limitations of insulin treatments that delay action and prolong effects. Patients with diabetes may benefit from these innovative therapies that could lead to better blood sugar control.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective insulin therapies that provide better glycemic control for diabetes patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using biologically derived compounds for diabetes treatment, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Safavi-Hemami, Helena — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Safavi-Hemami, Helena
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.