REV-ERB clock receptors linked to daily rhythms and metabolism
Official title: REV-ERB Nuclear Receptors in Circadian Rhythm and Metabolism
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11364906 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A human-dafety oriented research grant exploring how liver clock signals influence brain control of food intake to help fight obesity and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 1992 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $688,345 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DK045586-32A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364906 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with obesity or metabolic syndrome who are interested in how circadian biology affects appetite and metabolism.
✕Less likely to help
People without metabolic concerns or those not interested in timing of eating and circadian biology may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project investigates how liver clock proteins called REV-ERBs communicate with the brain to regulate when we eat. Researchers will use mouse models with targeted REV-ERB changes and advanced techniques like single-cell profiling and metabolomics to map the liver-to-brain signaling pathway. The study aims to identify how disruption of these signals affects food timing and metabolic health, with a focus on the brain’s regulation center in the brainstem. Findings could reveal new targets to align eating patterns with circadian rhythms and improve metabolic outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies for syncing eating patterns with the body's clock to improve obesity and diabetes management.
How similar studies have gone: Related studies have shown that circadian disruption affects metabolism, with growing evidence that liver-brain signaling influences feeding behavior; this project builds on that foundation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lazar, Mitchell a. — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Lazar, Mitchell 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.