Investigating how to enhance energy expenditure in fat cells
Official title: Enhancer for UCP1 transcription and thermogenesis
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-10945229 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to turn on a special protein in brown fat cells that helps burn energy, with the hope of finding new ways to help people lose weight and improve their overall health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $578,060 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK140318-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10945229 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals over 21 years old who are struggling with obesity or related metabolic conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or do not have metabolic disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how to activate a specific protein, UCP1, in brown fat cells to increase energy expenditure and combat obesity. The team will explore a newly identified enhancer region that may boost UCP1 transcription and its associated gene programs. Using advanced techniques like CRISPR and ATAC sequencing, they will analyze how this enhancer functions and its effects on fat metabolism and insulin regulation in mice. The ultimate goal is to uncover new strategies to promote weight loss and improve metabolic health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for obesity and related metabolic diseases, improving health outcomes for many patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in enhancing UCP1 activity and its potential to combat obesity, indicating that this approach may be viable.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sul, Hei Sook — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Sul, Hei Sook
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.