How different causes make the liver resistant to insulin
Official title: The cellular molecular regulation of differing mechanisms of insulin resistance.
Funded at Howard University · NIH-11159669 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at whether three different causes — high male hormones, a high‑fat diet, and a high‑fructose diet — make the liver stop responding to insulin in different ways to help adults with type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Howard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $345,992 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK126892-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159669 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with type 2 diabetes or clinical insulin resistance who want to learn about research into liver‑based causes of their condition.
✕Less likely to help
People with type 1 diabetes, genetic forms of diabetes, or those seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic animal research.
What this research studies
This project uses mouse models to compare three ways the liver can become insulin resistant: excess androgens, a high‑fat diet, and a high‑fructose diet. Researchers will use liver‑specific genetic knockouts to turn off key players (the androgen receptor, ketohexokinase, and protein kinase C) and see which molecular pathways are responsible in each model. They will measure biochemical signals such as diacylglycerol, PKC activity, p‑AKT, glucokinase, and glycogen synthase to map shared and unique mechanisms. The goal is to reveal how these different causes interact at the cellular and genetic level so future treatments can be more targeted.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific molecular targets for new therapies tailored to the underlying cause of a patient’s liver insulin resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have identified parts of these pathways (DAG‑PKCε in lipid‑driven resistance, KHK in fructose effects, and androgen‑linked resistance), but directly comparing all three mechanisms and their crosstalk is a newer, integrated approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Howard University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andrisse, Stanley — Howard University
- Study coordinator: Andrisse, Stanley
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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.