Investigating how bilirubin breakdown affects obesity and heart disease risk
Official title: Bilirubin Catabolism induces Plasminogen-Activator Inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) worsening Metabolic Dysfunction
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11020935 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a substance called urobilin, which comes from breaking down bilirubin, might affect body fat and heart health, and it’s testing this in lean mice to see if lowering urobilin could help prevent heart disease related to obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $34,966 |
| NIH project number | 5F31HL170972-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11020935 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are obese or at risk for cardiovascular diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or do not have any cardiovascular risk factors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of urobilin, a byproduct of bilirubin breakdown, in obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). By treating lean mice with urobilin, researchers aim to understand its effects on body fat and the expression of specific genes linked to CVD risk. The study will utilize advanced techniques like RNA sequencing to analyze changes in fat tissue and investigate whether reducing urobilin levels could serve as a potential treatment for CVD. The findings may provide insights into the connection between obesity and heart disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases linked to obesity.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific role of urobilin is not well-established, similar studies have shown promising results in understanding metabolic dysfunctions related to obesity and cardiovascular health.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kipp, Zachary a — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Kipp, Zachary a
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.