RNA chemical changes linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes
Official title: Epitranscriptomics in human obesity and type 2 diabetes
Funded at Joslin Diabetes Center · NIH-11126869 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will map chemical tags on RNA from people with obesity and type 2 diabetes to better understand signals that control metabolism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Joslin Diabetes Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,972,780 |
| NIH project number | 5RC2DK139552-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126869 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes who are willing to provide clinical information and biological samples, such as blood or tissue biopsies, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without obesity or diabetes, or those unwilling or unable to provide samples or attend clinical visits, are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project will map chemical modifications on messenger RNAs and chromatin-associated regulatory RNAs in metabolic tissues from people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Researchers will collect and integrate real patient data and samples, including blood, adipose tissue, islets, liver, and muscle where available, then apply sequencing methods such as ATAC-seq and RNA modification profiling. They will build a searchable database linking RNA and chromatin changes to gene regulation and metabolic measures using systems biology and computational analyses. The work combines human biospecimens, high-throughput genomics, and bioinformatics to identify regulatory pathways that could be targeted for future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets or biomarkers that lead to better treatments or diagnostics for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Early lab and animal studies suggest RNA modifications can influence metabolic gene control, but applying epitranscriptomics to human obesity and type 2 diabetes is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kulkarni, Rohit N. — Joslin Diabetes Center
- Study coordinator: Kulkarni, Rohit N.
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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.