Understanding Fat Tissue Changes and Metabolic Health in People with HIV
Official title: Assessing the Interrelationship Between Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis and Fibrosis in the Metabolic Health of People Living with HIV
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11190987 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how changes in fat tissue might lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $775,096 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK141041-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11190987 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for individuals living with HIV who are concerned about or experiencing insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV or those not experiencing metabolic health issues related to fat tissue may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many people living with HIV experience insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, even when their viral load is controlled. This happens because of 'metabolically unhealthy obesity,' where fat tissue doesn't work as it should. Our team is looking at two key factors in fat tissue: a reduction in special fat cells that burn energy, and an increase in scar-like tissue called fibrosis. We believe that specific cells within fat tissue, called CD81+ APCs, play a crucial role in balancing these factors and could be key to improving metabolic health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent or treat insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in people living with HIV by targeting specific fat tissue processes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior observations suggest a link between fat tissue changes and insulin resistance in the general population, and this work builds on those findings by focusing on people living with HIV and specific cell types.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koliwad, Suneil Krishna — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Koliwad, Suneil Krishna
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How fat tissue fuels insulin resistance in people living with HIV
This project looks at why people living with HIV have higher insulin resistance and diabetes risk, focusing on fat tissue, fibrosis, and the biology of fat cells.
-
Understanding how fat tissue affects metabolic health in people with HIV
This study is looking at how fat cells work in people with HIV and how this might affect their risk of diabetes, with the goal of finding ways to help improve their overall health.
-
Interface between immune cells and scarring in the eye
This grant looks at how immune cells influence scar formation in the cornea after injury and how this affects vision.
-
How often to treat schistosomiasis to protect the liver
A randomized trial will test different frequencies ofPraziquantel treatment to prevent liver damage in people aged 15–40 with schistosomiasis in Uganda.
-
Metabolic changes in cells that repair blood vessels in the eye lens to prevent scarring
A drug or approach that changes how certain cells that repair blood vessels in the eye work, to prevent scarring behind the retina in age-related macular degeneration patients treated with anti-VEGF therapy.
-
Myocardial fibrosis and fat in ART-treated women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
This project studies heart tissue changes in women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa who are on antiretroviral therapy, to understand why they’re at higher risk for heart problems as they age.
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.