Understanding how fat cells control fat storage and breakdown
Official title: Analysis of Lipolytic Trafficking in Adipocytes
Funded at Wayne State University · NIH-11456256 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at Wayne State University explores how a protein called ABHD5 helps fat cells manage storage and release of fats, which could impact metabolic health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2009 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $628,306 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DK076629-17 |
| Project ID | NIH-11456256 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with metabolic health issues related to adipose tissue function or those who have NAFLD, obesity, or insulin resistance, pending future clinical translation.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without adipose-related metabolic disorders may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how lipid droplets in fat cells are regulated at the molecular level, focusing on ABHD5 as a key regulator of lipolysis. Researchers will combine computational models with laboratory experiments to understand how ABHD5 interacts with other proteins and lipid droplet surfaces to enable fat breakdown. The goal is to map structural and biophysical details that control when and how fats are mobilized in adipose tissue, which influences conditions like diabetes and fatty liver disease. Insights from this work could point to new ways to modulate fat metabolism in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to novel strategies to treat metabolic diseases by better controlling fat storage and release.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that ABHD5 plays a crucial role in lipolysis, supporting the potential for meaningful advances with this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Wayne State University
Detroit, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Granneman, James G — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Granneman, James G
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
New MRI tools to better plan pediatric epilepsy surgery
A new MRI-based approach helps doctors decide the best time to surgically remove brain tissue in children with difficult-to-control seizures.
-
EBV reactivation and how it changes human cells in HIV-related cancers
This NIH grant looks at how Epstein-Barr virus reactivation affects human cells and may contribute to cancers in people with HIV/AIDS.
-
Programmed splicing derangement and EBV host cell shut-off in HIV/ AIDS-related cancers
Researchers are studying how Epstein-Barr virus reprograms human cells in people with HIV/AIDS to promote cancer development and autoimmune diseases.
-
PFAS may speed up artery disease by changing bile acids
Aims to see if PFAS chemicals make cholesterol rise and arteries more likely to harden, using a human-similar mouse model to understand how this could affect people.
-
Synthesis and measurement of cyanotoxins to understand human exposure from water and air
This project will make precise chemical standards and measurement methods for cyanotoxins from harmful algal blooms to better estimate how people might be exposed through drinking water and air.
-
Personalized cancer subtyping and risk prediction with multi-omics data
A cancer research project aims to classify tumors and predict risk by integrating multiple molecular data types to tailor treatments for patients.
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.