Finding ways to help people maintain weight loss by using orexin agonists
Official title: Reducing the post weight-loss energy expenditure gap with orexin agonists
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11089368 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a brain chemical called orexin A might help people keep off weight after they’ve lost it, by understanding how it affects energy use and activity levels, so that we can find better ways to support weight maintenance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $672,884 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134468-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11089368 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recently lost a significant amount of weight and struggle to maintain their new weight.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or have not experienced significant weight loss may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how orexin agonists can help individuals maintain their weight after significant weight loss. It focuses on the 'Energy Expenditure Gap' that occurs when a person's energy expenditure decreases after losing weight, making it hard to keep the weight off. The study aims to understand how orexin A, a neuropeptide in the brain, influences energy balance and physical activity levels. By exploring this relationship, the research seeks to develop new strategies to support weight maintenance through potential pharmacological interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide new treatments to help individuals maintain their weight loss more effectively.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in using neuropeptides to influence energy balance, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kotz, Catherine M — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Kotz, Catherine M
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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.