Dysfunctional fat tissue and its link to fatty liver and diabetes
Official title: Dysfunctional adipose tissue's role in hepatic metabolic disease
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-11593113 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how problems in fat tissue contribute to fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $97,500 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM144269-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11593113 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with obesity and metabolic syndrome or adult-onset diabetes who may have adipose tissue dysfunction and fatty liver involvement.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without metabolic disease or with well-controlled conditions may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how adipose tissue function, not just how much fat you have, affects liver fat production and blood sugar issues. It will explore the mechanisms linking adipose dysfunction to hepatic de novo lipogenesis and metabolic disease using human-relevant biology. The work aims to clarify how fat storage and release processes influence liver health and systemic metabolism, with potential pathways identified for future therapies. Participants would be drawn from adults with obesity-related metabolic conditions in whom adipose function can be studied alongside liver metabolism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could identify new targets to prevent or treat fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes by correcting adipose tissue function.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports a link between adipose dysfunction and liver metabolism, but this project seeks to define mechanistic connections in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lutkewitte, Andrew — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Lutkewitte, Andrew
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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.