Misfolded insulin and disrupted insulin signaling
Official title: Insulin Misfolding Dynamics and Insulin Signaling Dysfunction
Funded at Mc Laughlin Research Institute · NIH-11376480 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether misshapen (misfolded) insulin interferes with insulin action in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mc Laughlin Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Great Falls, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $317,633 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM152335-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376480 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes, particularly those with insulin resistance or who use injectable insulin, would be the most relevant group for future human studies based on this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without type 2 diabetes and likely those with autoimmune type 1 diabetes may not directly benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine the shape and stability of the insulin protein to see if it becomes misfolded and stops working properly. They will use laboratory assays that detect misfolded insulin and test how insulin forms clumps (fibrillizes) under conditions linked to type 2 diabetes. Experiments will include preclinical work using animal models to mimic disease-related stresses on insulin. This is lab- and animal-based research and does not currently involve testing treatments in people.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat insulin resistance by targeting or preventing insulin misfolding.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory studies have shown insulin can form misfolded aggregates, but applying these findings to the causes and treatment of human type 2 diabetes is a relatively new area.
Where this research is happening
-
Mc Laughlin Research Institute
Great Falls, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Canine, Brenda F — Mc Laughlin Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Canine, Brenda F
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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.