How tiny blood particles and insulin affect blood vessel health in type 2 diabetes
Extracellular Vesicles, Insulin Action and Exercise on Vascular Function in Type 2 Diabetes
This research looks at whether tiny particles released by cells (extracellular vesicles) and insulin help blood vessels work better in adults with obesity or type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311889 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will collect blood from adults with obesity, people with type 2 diabetes, and lean healthy volunteers, sometimes before and after insulin or exercise tests. They will isolate extracellular vesicles (small particles released by cells) and measure how insulin changes their levels, clearance, and uptake. In the lab they will test how these vesicles affect blood vessel widening and examine signals such as miRNA and eNOS. The team aims to connect vesicle changes to vascular function and metabolism as obesity progresses to type 2 diabetes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older with obesity or with type 2 diabetes are the main candidates, with healthy lean adults enrolled for comparison.
Not a fit: People under age 21, those unable to give blood or complete insulin/exercise testing, or those not able to travel to the study site are unlikely to be eligible or directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to protect or improve blood vessel function and reduce cardiovascular risk in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary work and other early studies suggest extracellular vesicles can change vascular responses, but applying this to insulin action in obesity and type 2 diabetes is a relatively new area.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Erdbruegger, Uta — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Erdbruegger, Uta
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 below.