How bile acids affect insulin and blood sugar
Official title: Bile acid composition and insulin sensitivity
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11180238 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are seeing whether certain bile acids called 12HBAs change how adults' bodies respond to insulin and control blood sugar.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $640,435 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK115825-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11180238 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with insulin resistance, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes would be the most directly relevant group for future benefits.
✕Less likely to help
Children, people without metabolic or insulin problems, and those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical work.
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, this work uses mice engineered to have human-like bile acid patterns so researchers can study how a specific group of bile acids (12HBAs) influences metabolism. The team will examine effects in the liver, intestine, and fat tissue and will also use isolated cells and tissues to pinpoint cell-level actions. These lab and animal experiments aim to reveal the biological steps linking bile acid mix to glucose and lipid control. The goal is to generate knowledge that could guide drugs to lower harmful bile acids and help people with insulin resistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drugs that lower harmful bile acids to improve blood sugar and lipid control in people with insulin resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Previous human and animal studies have linked bile acid patterns to metabolism and shown that lower 12HBA levels associate with better glucose and lipid outcomes, but the detailed mechanisms remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haeusler, Rebecca Anne — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Haeusler, Rebecca Anne
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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.