How belly and lower-body fat affect type 2 diabetes
Mechanisms of human adipose tissue development and impact of diabetes
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · NIH-11166843
Researchers are growing human belly and lower-body fat cells in mice to learn how fat from different body areas changes metabolism in people with and without type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (WORCESTER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11166843 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project uses fat stem cells taken from people’s abdominal (belly) and gluteo-femoral (hip/thigh) fat and turns them into working human fat tissue inside specially prepared mice. The team compares cells from donors with normal blood sugar to those with type 2 diabetes to see whether fat from different body sites behaves differently. They use two mouse models — one made insulin resistant by diet and one genetically lacking mouse fat — to test how each human fat depot affects whole-body metabolism. Results will be used to link depot-specific fat behavior to diabetes-related changes in the body.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults able to donate a small sample of abdominal or gluteal fat, including people with type 2 diabetes and people with normal glucose levels.
Not a fit: People with diabetes types unrelated to fat distribution (for example type 1 diabetes) or those not able to donate tissue are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to target or prevent the harmful effects of body fat distribution on diabetes and heart risk.
How similar studies have performed: Related human fat graft and mouse xenograft studies have provided useful clues, but using depot-specific human progenitor cells in these two mouse models to link depot origin to whole-body metabolism is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
WORCESTER, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER — WORCESTER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: CORVERA, SILVIA — UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER
- Study coordinator: CORVERA, SILVIA
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.
Conditions: Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus