Targeted role of Intelectin-1 in protecting against obesity
Official title: Targeted Dissection of Intelectin-1 in Obesity Risk
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11441361 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, patient-friendly study to understand how a natural body protein, Intelectin-1 (ITLN1), could help prevent obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $133,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R03DK149184-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11441361 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals concerned about obesity risk or with a family history of obesity may indirectly benefit from future therapies informed by this work.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals with no obesity risk factors are less likely to directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at where ITLN1 comes from in the body and how it helps keep weight in balance. It builds on prior work showing ITLN1 levels relate to obesity risk and explores whether boosting ITLN1 in specific tissues could protect against gaining weight when on a unhealthy diet. The study uses carefully designed experiments to map ITLN1 sources and test its metabolic effects, with results aiming to point to new prevention or treatment ideas. If successful, findings could guide future therapies that support metabolic health from early life onward.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If ITLN1’s protective role is clarified, new strategies to prevent obesity could be developed.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest ITLN1 influences diet-induced obesity, indicating potential for meaningful progress with this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Matute, Juan D. — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Matute, Juan D.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Understanding how maternal and infant sleep and daily rhythms influence early appetite and obesity risk
This project explores how infant sleep, circadian rhythms, and maternal-infant timing relate to early appetite patterns and the risk of obesity in the first year of life.
-
GLP-1 receptor agonists as immune targets to treat asthma in lean and obese adults
Aims to understand how GLP-1R‑agonist diabetes medicines may directly calm immune cells to reduce asthma in adults who are lean or obese.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
-
Multicomponent lifestyle program to curb obesity and cardiometabolic risk in Samoan children
A locally designed lifestyle program aimed at preventing obesity and heart-disease risk in Samoan kids, with a focus on daily routines, healthy eating, sleep, and family support.
-
Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity manage weight in Nepal
A new app designed for pregnant women in Nepal with overweight or obesity to help manage weight gain during pregnancy and reduce weight retention after birth.
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.