How heavy drinking affects fat metabolism and health.
Official title: Aberrant BCAA utilization in alcohol-induced metabolic dysregulation
Funded at Texas Tech University · NIH-10730925 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how drinking a lot of alcohol affects the way your body uses certain nutrients called branched-chain amino acids, which could lead to health problems like type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease, and it's for anyone who wants to understand the impact of heavy drinking on their metabolism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lubbock, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $482,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AA031123-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10730925 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who consume alcohol heavily and may be experiencing metabolic dysregulation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume alcohol or have no metabolic issues related to alcohol use may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of chronic heavy alcohol consumption on metabolic disorders, particularly focusing on how it affects the utilization of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in fat tissues. The study aims to understand the mechanisms behind increased BCAA levels in individuals who consume alcohol heavily, which may lead to conditions like type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. By analyzing both human and animal models, researchers will explore how alcohol disrupts the normal functioning of brown adipose tissue, which is crucial for energy regulation and insulin sensitivity. The findings could provide insights into potential therapeutic targets for those affected by alcohol-related metabolic issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating metabolic disorders associated with heavy alcohol consumption.
How similar studies have gone: While the relationship between alcohol consumption and metabolic disorders has been studied, the specific focus on BCAA utilization in this context is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jun, Heejin — Texas Tech University
- Study coordinator: Jun, Heejin
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.