How obesity and diabetes affect the immune response to viral infections
Official title: Effect of obesity and diabetes in regulating pulmonary and extra-pulmonary anti-viral immune responses
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-10999623 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $769,522 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK138675-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10999623 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes who are at risk for severe respiratory viral infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without obesity or diabetes may not benefit directly from the findings of this research.
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.
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 gone: 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 University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khanna, Kamal Mohan — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Khanna, Kamal Mohan
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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.