Understanding how a cell protein affects insulin sensitivity
Official title: Integrin regulation of insulin sensitivity
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11091633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work explores how a specific protein on our cells, called integrin, influences how our bodies use insulin, which is important for people with or at risk for diabetes and heart disease.
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 | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $541,689 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK125310-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11091633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is relevant for individuals with or at high risk for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without conditions related to insulin resistance, obesity, or cardiovascular disease would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Our bodies need insulin to help cells take in sugar for energy, but sometimes cells become resistant to insulin, which can lead to serious health problems like heart disease. This project aims to uncover how a particular cell surface protein, αvβ5 integrin, and its partner, Mfge8, play a role in this insulin resistance, especially in muscle cells. We believe that by understanding how these proteins interact with the insulin receptor, we can find new ways to improve how our bodies respond to insulin. The goal is to discover if disrupting this specific protein pathway could help reduce insulin resistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new targets for medications or therapies to prevent or treat insulin resistance, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific pathway being explored is novel, previous data suggest that disrupting this pathway can affect how muscle cells respond to insulin.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Atabai, Kamran — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Atabai, Kamran
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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.