Nerves connecting internal organs and body fat
The Role of Sensory Neurons Innervating Internal Organs
This project maps nerve cells that connect to body fat to better understand how they affect metabolism and health for people with obesity or metabolic conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11097337 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone worried about weight or metabolic health, this work is tracing the sensory nerve cells that reach fat tissue and describing what they do. Researchers will use advanced molecular and genetic tools to label, map, and profile dorsal root ganglion neurons that innervate fat depots. They will create three-dimensional anatomical maps and study how these sensory neurons interact with the sympathetic nervous system and fat cells. Much of the work is lab-based and uses tissue and animal models to reveal mechanisms that could be relevant to human metabolism.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with obesity, metabolic syndrome, or unexplained changes in body weight who are interested in nerve-based causes or future nerve-targeted therapies would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate new therapy or those with conditions limited to skin nerves or unrelated organ systems are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic science work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new nerve-related targets for treating obesity, metabolic disorders, or related nerve dysfunction.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have mapped vagal sensory neurons and linked them to organ sensing, but mapping dorsal root ganglion neurons that connect to fat is relatively novel and less tested.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Scripps Research Institute, the — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patapoutian, Ardem — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Patapoutian, Ardem
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.