How fat tissue fuels insulin resistance in people living with HIV
Official title: Assessing the Interrelationship Between Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis and Fibrosis in the Metabolic Health of People Living with HIV
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11369237 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why people living with HIV have higher insulin resistance and diabetes risk, focusing on fat tissue, fibrosis, and the biology of fat cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $817,547 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK141041-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369237 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV who have or are at risk for insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
If a participant does not have HIV or metabolic issues related to insulin resistance, they may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If approved, this study will explore how fat tissue in HIV patients may become fibrotic and less able to burn calories, which could contribute to insulin resistance. Researchers will examine adipose cells and their mitochondria, especially brown and beige fat cells, and how these processes relate to fibrosis in subcutaneous fat. The work includes studying a specific subset of precursor cells that may decide whether fat tissue stays healthy or becomes fibrotic, potentially linking these changes to insulin sensitivity in PLWH. The findings could point toward new approaches to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new strategies to prevent insulin resistance and diabetes in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in adipose biology and fibrosis suggests a link to insulin resistance, with this study extending those ideas to HIV+ populations.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koliwad, Suneil Krishna — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Koliwad, Suneil Krishna
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding Fat Tissue Changes and Metabolic Health in People with HIV
This work explores how changes in fat tissue might lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in people living with HIV.
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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.