How cells organize fat droplets and what they do
Mechanisms of lipid droplet organization and functional diversification
['FUNDING_R01'] · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11296045
Researchers are exploring how tiny fat-storage packets inside liver and kidney cells work and how that relates to people with type 2 diabetes and acute kidney injury.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DALLAS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11296045 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project looks at how liver- and kidney-like tissues sort and use two kinds of fats—'old' fats brought from circulation and 'new' fats made locally—to keep cells healthy. The team uses a genetic screening platform developed in fruit flies alongside lab experiments to identify the proteins and pathways that control lipid droplet organization and signaling. They will compare these mechanisms across tissues and under metabolic stress relevant to diabetes and kidney injury. The work aims to explain how mismanaged lipids contribute to fatty liver, diabetes complications, and worse outcomes after acute kidney injury.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, or those at high risk for acute kidney injury are the groups most directly connected to this work.
Not a fit: People without metabolic or kidney conditions are unlikely to see direct benefit from this research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to prevent or treat fatty liver, improve metabolic control in diabetes, or reduce kidney damage after injury.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have identified distinct 'old' versus 'new' lipid pools and links to disease, but using a genetic-screening approach to map the organizing machinery is a newer strategy.
Where this research is happening
DALLAS, UNITED STATES
- UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER — DALLAS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HENNE, MIKE — UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: HENNE, MIKE
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