Reprogramming metabolism to power alternative fat-burning modes
Official title: Reprogramming metabolism to support alternative modes of adipocyte thermogenesis
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11607804 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new project will explore how fat cells burn calories in different ways to help combat obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | August 4, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $206,000 |
| NIH project number | 2R56DK127175-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11607804 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with obesity or metabolic disorders could benefit from future therapies inspired by these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without metabolic concerns or obesity are unlikely to directly benefit from these basic metabolic studies.
What this research studies
This research seeks to understand which fuels brown and beige fat cells use to generate heat and how this affects energy use in the body. The team will use genetic models and in vivo tracing to compare fat burning with and without UCP1, a key protein, and to see if other pathways can also dissipate energy. Findings could inform future therapies that boost metabolism in people with obesity or related metabolic diseases. The study emphasizes understanding metabolic wiring and potential trade-offs to guide safer, more effective treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform new metabolic therapies that increase energy expenditure in people with obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that fat metabolism and thermogenesis can be manipulated in animal models, with translational potential under investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guertin, David a — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Guertin, David a
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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.