How obesity and diabetes affect the immune response to viral infections

Effect of obesity and diabetes in regulating pulmonary and extra-pulmonary anti-viral immune responses

['FUNDING_R01'] · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · NIH-10999623

This study is looking at how being overweight and having type 2 diabetes can affect your body's ability to fight off respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu, using mice to learn more about why these conditions might make infections worse, with hopes of finding better treatments for people who are affected.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorNEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10999623 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates how obesity and type 2 diabetes influence the body's immune response to respiratory viral infections like SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza. By using mouse models, the study examines the effects of hyperglycemia and obesity on inflammation and anti-viral responses. The researchers aim to understand the mechanisms that lead to increased disease severity and mortality in individuals with these conditions. The findings could help identify potential therapeutic targets to improve immune responses in affected patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes who are at risk for severe respiratory viral infections.

Not a fit: Patients without obesity or diabetes may not benefit directly from the findings of this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for patients with obesity and diabetes during viral infections.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that understanding the immune response in similar contexts can lead to significant advancements in treatment strategies.

Where this research is happening

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.