Hepatic GABA signaling and insulin resistance in adults with type 2 diabetes
Official title: Role of the hepatic GABA shunt in insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11322710 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring how fat in the liver and the brain’s communication with the liver affect insulin levels and how targeting liver GABA could improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $383,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK132281-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11322710 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with type 2 diabetes and related NAFLD who meet the study’s medical criteria and consent to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without type 2 diabetes or those not experiencing hepatic fat-related insulin resistance may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how fat in the liver changes the liver’s production of GABA, a neurotransmitter, and how that signals through the vagus nerve to impact insulin release and how the body uses glucose. By studying these signals in adults with type 2 diabetes, researchers aim to understand whether reducing liver GABA can improve insulin sensitivity and normalize insulin levels. The work builds on animal data and early clinical findings to test mechanisms and potential therapeutic approaches in humans. If successful, this could point to new treatments that target the liver–nerve axis to better regulate blood sugar.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new ways to improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes by modulating liver GABA signaling.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data and early clinical observations suggest liver GABA signaling influences insulin dynamics, supporting a potential for meaningful advances in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Renquist, Benjamin Jennings — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Renquist, Benjamin Jennings
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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.