Exploring how immune responses differ by sex in obesity
Official title: Innate immune pathways underlying sexual dimorphism in obesity pathogenesis
Funded at University of California Riverside · NIH-10989905 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how the immune system affects obesity differently in men and women, with the goal of finding new ways to help manage obesity-related health issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project start | November 17, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $181,144 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI180561-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10989905 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are experiencing obesity or related health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not affected by obesity or do not have related health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the immune mechanisms that contribute to obesity and how these mechanisms differ between males and females. It focuses on the interactions between immune cells in adipose tissue, particularly looking at a newly identified protective pathway that is specific to females. By studying these differences, the research aims to uncover new therapeutic targets that could help manage obesity-related diseases. The approach includes advanced techniques such as single-cell sequencing and immune cell transfer to gain insights into the underlying biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for obesity and its associated health complications, particularly for women.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in understanding sex differences in immune responses, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Riverside
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nair, Meera Goh — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Nair, Meera Goh
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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.