How body fat affects skin leishmaniasis outcomes
Official title: Adipocytes and inflammation in the cutaneous leishmaniasis outcome
Funded at Federal University of Bahia · NIH-11173606 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how fat tissue and fat-related molecules change inflammation and healing in people with cutaneous leishmaniasis, especially those who are overweight or obese.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Federal University of Bahia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salvador, Brazil) |
| Project start | August 20, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $120,226 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI183392-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173606 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cutaneous leishmaniasis, particularly those who are overweight or obese, would be the primary candidates for participation.
✕Less likely to help
People without cutaneous leishmaniasis, those with other forms of leishmaniasis, or people unable to provide blood or tissue samples are unlikely to see direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You would be asked to give blood and, when possible, small samples of fat and skin so researchers can study immune cells, leptin, and lipid profiles. The team will compare obese and non-obese patients to see whether different fats or higher leptin levels link with worse skin ulcers and slower healing. Laboratory tests will also test whether certain lipids can shift macrophages from an inflammatory state toward a tissue-repair state. Findings will be compared with treatment results to look for links between fat, inflammation, and therapy failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to reduce harmful inflammation and help skin ulcers heal faster in people with cutaneous leishmaniasis.
How similar studies have gone: Some prior studies link obesity and leptin to stronger inflammation, but using lipid profiling and macrophage reprogramming to improve cutaneous leishmaniasis outcomes is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Federal University of Bahia
Salvador, Brazil Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carvalho, Lucas P — Federal University of Bahia
- Study coordinator: Carvalho, Lucas P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Adipose tissue and inflammation in cutaneous leishmaniasis
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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.