Stopping fat-driven cell damage to protect metabolic health
Lipotoxicity and Maintenance of Metabolic Health
Testing whether removing certain tiny RNAs inside cells can prevent fat-related liver and metabolic damage in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Joslin Diabetes Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324243 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study a group of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) that appear to make cells more vulnerable to damage from excess fat. They will remove these snoRNAs in cell experiments and in mice fed high-fat diets to see whether tissues such as the liver are protected from lipotoxic injury. The team will link snoRNA levels to changes in how proteins are made by ribosomes and how dietary fats influence those processes. Results could point to new molecular targets for treating fatty liver and other complications of type 2 diabetes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with type 2 diabetes or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease would be the most likely future candidates for therapies inspired by this research, although the current work is performed in labs and animal models.
Not a fit: People without metabolic disease, children, or anyone seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this preclinical grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for drugs that prevent or treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and other fat-overload complications of diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Basic studies have linked snoRNAs and ribosome modifications to cellular stress, but using snoRNA knockout to protect against diet-induced fatty liver is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Joslin Diabetes Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schaffer, Jean E. — Joslin Diabetes Center
- Study coordinator: Schaffer, Jean E.
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.