How obesity affects glucose transport and metabolism in the brain
Official title: The impact of obesity on cerebral glucose transport and metabolism
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10813776 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being overweight might affect the brain's ability to use sugar for energy, and it's for anyone interested in understanding how obesity can impact brain health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $483,241 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK123227-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10813776 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults aged 21 and older who are obese or have a body mass index (BMI) indicating obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not obese or do not have related metabolic conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between obesity and brain metabolism, specifically focusing on how obesity may reduce the brain's ability to transport glucose across the blood-brain barrier. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques and metabolic assessments, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind this association, including the role of fatty acids in glucose transport. The research includes both human participants and animal models to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of obesity on brain function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights into how obesity impacts brain health and may inform strategies for preventing or treating cognitive decline in obese individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated a link between obesity and reduced brain metabolism, suggesting that this study builds on established findings but explores new mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hwang, Janice Jin — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Hwang, Janice Jin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Understanding how maternal and infant sleep and daily rhythms influence early appetite and obesity risk
This project explores how infant sleep, circadian rhythms, and maternal-infant timing relate to early appetite patterns and the risk of obesity in the first year of life.
-
GLP-1 receptor agonists as immune targets to treat asthma in lean and obese adults
Aims to understand how GLP-1R‑agonist diabetes medicines may directly calm immune cells to reduce asthma in adults who are lean or obese.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
-
Multicomponent lifestyle program to curb obesity and cardiometabolic risk in Samoan children
A locally designed lifestyle program aimed at preventing obesity and heart-disease risk in Samoan kids, with a focus on daily routines, healthy eating, sleep, and family support.
-
Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity manage weight in Nepal
A new app designed for pregnant women in Nepal with overweight or obesity to help manage weight gain during pregnancy and reduce weight retention after birth.
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.