How a Samoan gene (CREBRF) relates to early childhood body size and metabolism
Official title: CREBRF Genomics, Gestational Diabetes, and Early Life Body Size in American Samoa
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11170646 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a common Samoan gene variant called CREBRF shapes babies' and children's body size and metabolism to help explain higher obesity but lower diabetes risk in this population.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $242,353 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HD107030-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170646 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Samoan mothers, infants, and young children (and their families) in American Samoa who can provide samples and attend local growth and body-composition visits.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not of Samoan or Pacific Islander ancestry, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment for obesity or diabetes, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this observational research.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will work with Samoan mothers, infants, and young children to collect growth measurements, body composition data, and blood samples. They will test for the CREBRF genetic variant (rs373863828) and run metabolomics to profile small molecules linked to fat, lean mass, and bone development. The team will track when differences in weight and body composition appear in early life and connect those changes to metabolic signatures. Results aim to highlight when and how the gene affects growth and to point to biological pathways that could guide early prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal early-life metabolic markers or pathways to help prevent unhealthy weight gain and clarify why this gene raises weight but may protect against diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous genetic studies have repeatedly linked the CREBRF variant to higher BMI but lower diabetes risk in Pacific Islanders, while applying metabolomics to early childhood growth is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heinsberg, Lacey W — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Heinsberg, Lacey W
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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.