Investigating how a specific protein influences obesity variation
Official title: A Trim28-ERV axis drives phenotypic variation in obesity
Funded at Van Andel Research Institute · NIH-10909000 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a protein called Trim28 affects factors that can lead to obesity, helping us understand why some people gain weight differently, and it could provide helpful insights for those struggling with obesity beyond just genetics and lifestyle.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Van Andel Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Grand Rapids, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $575,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK132216-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10909000 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing unexplained variations in obesity that cannot be attributed to genetic or environmental factors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose obesity is clearly linked to genetic factors or environmental influences may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of the Trim28 protein in regulating non-genetic factors that contribute to obesity. By studying animal models, the researchers aim to understand how variations in the expression of certain genes, influenced by Trim28, can lead to different obesity phenotypes. The study focuses on the interaction between Trim28 and endogenous retroviruses, which may affect gene expression and metabolic outcomes. Patients may benefit from insights into the biological mechanisms behind obesity that are not solely based on genetics or environment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for understanding and treating obesity by targeting non-genetic factors.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the role of epigenetics in obesity, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Van Andel Research Institute
Grand Rapids, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pospisilik, John Andrew — Van Andel Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Pospisilik, John Andrew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Understanding how maternal and infant sleep and daily rhythms influence early appetite and obesity risk
This project explores how infant sleep, circadian rhythms, and maternal-infant timing relate to early appetite patterns and the risk of obesity in the first year of life.
-
GLP-1 receptor agonists as immune targets to treat asthma in lean and obese adults
Aims to understand how GLP-1R‑agonist diabetes medicines may directly calm immune cells to reduce asthma in adults who are lean or obese.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
-
Multicomponent lifestyle program to curb obesity and cardiometabolic risk in Samoan children
A locally designed lifestyle program aimed at preventing obesity and heart-disease risk in Samoan kids, with a focus on daily routines, healthy eating, sleep, and family support.
-
Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity manage weight in Nepal
A new app designed for pregnant women in Nepal with overweight or obesity to help manage weight gain during pregnancy and reduce weight retention after birth.
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.