Promoting heat-loving fat cells to help burn energy
Official title: The role of hyaluron in beige adipogenesis
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11404797 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to help people lose weight by making body fat more like energy-burning beige fat using a new approach linked to a natural sugar polymer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $817,387 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK142668-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404797 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with excess adipose tissue who are interested in approaches that promote the formation of energy-burning beige fat.
✕Less likely to help
People with conditions unrelated to adipose tissue thermogenesis may not benefit.
What this research studies
This research explores how hyaluronan, a natural substance in the body, might help ordinary fat tissue create more heat-producing beige fat when exposed to cold or certain signals. The team will use mouse models and human-relevant studies to see if targeting hyaluronan can recruit new beige fat cells and boost energy expenditure. If successful, this work could lead to new drug strategies to support weight loss and metabolic health in adults. The project is led by Qiong Annabel Wang at Beckman Research Institute/City of Hope and runs from 2025 through 2030.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, it could lead to new treatments that help adults burn more calories through healthier fat behavior.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data in animals suggest hyaluronan supports beige fat formation, but human translation is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Qiong Annabel — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Wang, Qiong Annabel
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.