Keeping beige fat working to improve metabolism
Regulation of beige adipocyte maintenance and its impact on metabolic outcomes
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · NIH-11306982
Researchers are developing ways to keep calorie-burning beige fat active to help people with obesity or diabetes burn more energy and control blood sugar.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11306982 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Scientists at the University of Illinois Chicago use mouse models to test drug and genetic methods that make beige fat cells persist inside white fat. They will measure whether these longer-lasting beige adipocytes improve body weight, fat levels, and blood sugar under healthy and disease-like conditions including obesity and aging. Early lab data show beige cells can be maintained in older mice without continuous stimulation, and the team will expand on those findings to study metabolic benefit and safety. Although the work is preclinical in animals now, the aim is to identify approaches that could be translated into human treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The eventual human candidates would likely be adults with obesity or type 2 diabetes, especially older adults with metabolic problems.
Not a fit: People without metabolic disease, children, or patients seeking an immediate clinical therapy are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new therapies that increase calorie burning and improve glucose control for people with obesity or type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies show activating beige or brown fat can boost metabolism and improve glucose handling, but methods to keep beige cells long-term are still new and have only shown promising early results.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO — Chicago, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JIANG, YUWEI — UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- Study coordinator: JIANG, YUWEI
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 below.