Targeted drug delivery for obesity and type 2 diabetes treatment
Official title: Macrophage-Targeted Drug Delivery Depot for Obesity and Comorbid Type 2 Diabetes
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-10908936 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to deliver medication directly to fat cells in the body to help reduce inflammation and support weight loss for people dealing with obesity and type 2 diabetes, all while making it easier to stick to treatment without changing your diet.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $587,866 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK139924-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10908936 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are struggling with obesity and related metabolic conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or do not have obesity-related comorbidities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new method to deliver drugs specifically to macrophage cells in adipose tissue, which play a key role in obesity and related conditions like type 2 diabetes. By using biodegradable nanocarriers, the study aims to create a drug depot that can release medication over time, potentially improving patient adherence to treatment. The approach is designed to reduce inflammation in adipose tissue and promote weight loss without requiring changes in diet. The research will also explore imaging techniques to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective non-surgical treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes, improving health outcomes for many patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with similar drug delivery approaches in animal models, indicating potential for success in human applications.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Andrew Michael — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Smith, Andrew Michael
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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.