Genetic switches in muscle that affect adult-onset diabetes risk
Context-specific and combinatorial genetic regulatory grammars in diabetes
This project looks for genetic changes that alter gene activity in skeletal muscle and raise the chance of adult-onset (type 2) diabetes, with attention to groups underrepresented in past studies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11316339 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my viewpoint as a patient, researchers will study DNA and gene activity in skeletal muscle to find non-coding genetic changes that change how genes are turned on and off. They will combine genetic data with functional genomics methods (like looking at open DNA regions and gene expression) to link specific variants to the genes and muscle cell types they affect. The team plans to include samples from diverse groups, including people of African ancestry, to make findings more applicable to a wider population. Lab experiments and cellular tests will be used to confirm which genetic changes actually change muscle gene regulation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with or at risk for type 2 diabetes, including people of African ancestry who are willing to provide blood or muscle-related samples for genetic and genomic analysis.
Not a fit: People without adult-onset diabetes (for example, those with type 1 diabetes or unrelated conditions) or those seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to gain direct short-term benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal specific genetic causes and target cell types in type 2 diabetes, informing better risk prediction and future targeted therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous genome-wide studies have linked many diabetes risk variants to regulatory DNA, but applying combinatorial, context-specific mapping in muscle and in diverse populations is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parker, Stephen Cj — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Parker, Stephen Cj
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 below.