Metformin and T cell health in people with obesity
Identifying mechanisms by which metformin regulates T cell responses in obesity
This project looks at whether the diabetes drug metformin can correct T cell problems that make viral infections worse in people with obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249653 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You’ll hear how researchers are trying to find out why T cells (important infection-fighting cells) work poorly in people with obesity and whether metformin can change that. They will study T cell metabolism in the lab and in mice, measuring things like glucose uptake and mitochondrial activity to see how cells use energy. They will treat obese mice with metformin to see if T cell metabolism and survival after viral infection improve, and they will compare those findings with human T cell samples. Results are meant to point to new ways to help people with obesity mount better immune responses to viruses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with obesity who are willing to provide samples or consider joining future clinical trials aimed at improving immune responses to viral infections.
Not a fit: People without obesity or those whose immune problems stem from other causes such as primary immunodeficiency or active chemotherapy are less likely to benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to using metformin or similar metabolic approaches to boost T cell responses and reduce severe viral infections in people with obesity.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have shown metformin can reverse T cell metabolic problems and improve survival after influenza, but evidence in people remains limited.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maciver, Nancie — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Maciver, Nancie
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.