How fat-tissue particles affect blood vessel health in type 2 diabetes and whether exercise or weight-loss surgery can help
Official title: Role of Adiposomes in Diabetes-Associated Endothelial Dysfunction and Restorative Effects of Exercise and Metabolic Surgery
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11247948 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether tiny particles released from fat harm blood vessels in adults with type 2 diabetes and if exercise or metabolic surgery can reverse those effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $694,666 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL161386-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11247948 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21 years and older) with obesity and type 2 diabetes, especially those willing to provide adipose tissue samples or take part in exercise or metabolic-surgery–related protocols, are the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without type 2 diabetes or obesity, children, and those unable or unwilling to provide tissue samples or participate in exercise/surgery protocols are unlikely to be eligible or directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
The team will collect fat tissue from adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes to isolate small vesicles called adiposomes and study the lipids they carry. In the lab they will test how those adiposome lipids, especially glycosphingolipids, change the membranes and function of blood vessel cells. They will also model how exercise-like forces (high shear stress) and metabolic surgery change adiposome effects on the vessels. Results come from experiments using human-derived samples and cellular models to link patient biology to potential corrective strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal why blood vessels are harmed in obese people with type 2 diabetes and point to new ways—including tailored exercise or surgery—to protect vascular health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows fat-derived extracellular vesicles can affect other cell types, but focusing on lipid transfer—particularly glycosphingolipids—and rescue by exercise or surgery is relatively new and not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mohamed, Abeer M — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Mohamed, Abeer M
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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.