Insulin action and blood metabolites in Southwest American Indian adults

Metabolic architecture of insulin action in Southwest American Indians

NIH-funded research Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-10885990

This project looks at blood metabolites tied to how insulin works in Southwest American Indian adults at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Nashville, United States)
Project IDNIH-10885990 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, you'll have detailed tests of how insulin controls your blood sugar, including a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Researchers will take blood samples to measure many small molecules (metabolites) and compare those levels to your insulin response. They will compare these findings to data from other groups to find biological pathways that might explain the very high diabetes risk in Southwest American Indians. This combination of precise insulin testing and metabolomics aims to point to early markers or targets for prevention and more tailored care.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are Southwest American Indian adults (age 21 and older), especially those living in or near the Gila River Indian Community who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Not a fit: People who are not Southwest American Indian adults, those under 21, or those with other types of diabetes (such as type 1) are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify blood markers and biological mechanisms that lead to earlier detection and more personalized prevention or treatment for type 2 diabetes in Southwest American Indian communities.

How similar studies have performed: Previous longitudinal and metabolite studies in mainly White populations have linked metabolites and insulin measures to diabetes risk, and clamp-based insulin studies have identified predictors, but combining clamp measures with metabolomics in Southwest American Indians is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

Nashville, 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.
Conditions Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 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.