Investigating how obesity affects kidney health in children
Official title: Insulin and Immune Mechanisms in Obesity-Induced Renal Disease
Funded at University of Mississippi Med Ctr · NIH-11176727 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being overweight before puberty can affect kidney health in kids, even if they don't have diabetes, by using a rat model to learn more about how insulin resistance harms kidney function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Mississippi Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jackson, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $200,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R56DK140968-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11176727 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children who are prepubescent and exhibit signs of obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not prepubescent or do not have obesity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the impact of prepubertal childhood obesity on kidney health, particularly how it may lead to renal injury even in the absence of diabetes. Using a specific rat model, the study will explore the mechanisms behind insulin resistance and its effects on kidney function. The researchers will examine changes in glucose and energy metabolism in kidney cells, aiming to uncover how these changes contribute to kidney damage. This work is crucial as it addresses a growing health issue that has not been thoroughly investigated.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for kidney disease in obese children.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been research on obesity and kidney health, this specific focus on prepubertal obesity and its independent effects on renal disease is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Mississippi Med Ctr
Jackson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Jan Michael — University of Mississippi Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Williams, Jan Michael
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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.