Understanding how diabetes affects tuberculosis and the body’s defense against it
Official title: Dissecting the determinants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis fitness through the lens of diabetes mellitus comorbidity
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11451472 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused look at how having diabetes changes the way the immune system fights tuberculosis and how this might influence treatment in people with both conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $450,828 |
| NIH project number | 1P01AI201081-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11451472 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with both diabetes and tuberculosis or those at high risk of TB who also have diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetes or TB are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This program explores why people with diabetes may be more susceptible to tuberculosis and how diabetes changes immune cell behavior in the lungs. Researchers study how lung macrophages and neutrophils respond to TB infection when diabetes is present, using models that reflect both conditions. The work aims to map how high blood sugar alters immune signals and cell death pathways that influence TB progression. Results could point to new treatment strategies that better protect people who have both diabetes and TB.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more effective TB therapies tailored for people with diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked diabetes to worse TB outcomes and altered immune responses, with emerging evidence that metabolic changes influence infection control.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stallings, Christina Leigh — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Stallings, Christina Leigh
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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.