New oral medicines that turn on the insulin receptor to improve blood sugar control
Beyond insulin: Next-generation modulators of insulin receptor for glycemic control
Developing small, non-peptide drugs that activate the insulin receptor to help people with diabetes manage blood sugar without injections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179471 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing and optimizing small, non-peptide molecules that bind specific sites on the human insulin receptor to turn it on. Lab work will include structural studies, cell-based testing, and chemical optimization to find candidates that work like insulin but could be taken by mouth. The team will screen compounds for potency, specificity, and safety in cells and animal models before any human testing. This is early-stage work focused on creating lead drugs that could later move into clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diabetes (type 1 or type 2) who are interested in future clinical trials of new oral insulin-receptor activators may be potential candidates down the line.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or those who currently require precise, immediate insulin dosing (for example, some people with unstable type 1 diabetes) may not benefit directly from this early-stage work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to oral, non-insulin drugs that lower blood sugar and reduce or replace the need for injections for many people with diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: This approach is novel and largely untested in humans, and prior efforts to create oral insulin-receptor activators have had limited success to date.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chou, Danny Hung-Chieh — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Chou, Danny Hung-Chieh
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.