How the CELA2A enzyme affects insulin, weight, and heart disease risk
Official title: The characterization of Cela2a, a novel disease gene for metabolic syndrome in health and diseases
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11319809 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how changes in the CELA2A enzyme affect insulin function and the risk of type 2 diabetes and early heart disease in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $668,171 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134329-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319809 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with early-onset type 2 diabetes, a strong family history of metabolic syndrome or premature atherosclerosis, or known CELA2A mutations who can provide blood samples and medical history.
✕Less likely to help
People without metabolic syndrome or unrelated health issues, and those unwilling to provide samples, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
What this research studies
From your perspective, researchers may ask you to provide medical history and blood samples, including fasting and post-meal samples, to measure CELA2A levels and insulin responses. In the lab they will compare normal and mutant CELA2A proteins in cells to see how they change insulin signaling, platelet activity, and artery-relevant pathways. They will also use animal models to test how altering CELA2A affects metabolism and atherosclerosis. Clinical and genetic data will be combined to understand how common CELA2A variants relate to blood pressure, cholesterol, body weight, and diabetes risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new treatments that improve insulin sensitivity and lower the risk of diabetes-related heart disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior genetic and laboratory work has linked CELA2A mutations to severe metabolic syndrome and diabetes, but moving from these findings to treatments is still new.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mani, Arya — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Mani, Arya
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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.