Understanding how fat droplets shape early neural development and birth defects
Official title: Investigating lipid droplet regulation and function in the developing neural tube
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11442230 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A short, patient-friendly look at how maternal diabetes and obesity might affect a baby’s brain and spine formation through lipid droplet biology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 27, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $430,375 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD123148-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442230 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant people with type 2 diabetes or obesity, or those with a history of neural tube defects.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnancies without maternal metabolic risk factors may have a lower direct impact from this research.
What this research studies
This project explores how lipid droplets in embryonic tissues influence neural tube development and how non-genetic factors like diabetes and obesity might increase the risk of neural tube defects such as anencephaly and spina bifida. Scientists will study the basic biology of lipids during early development to identify how these fats are used and stored in embryonic cells. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new ways to prevent birth defects related to lipid metabolism in pregnancies affected by diabetes or obesity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new strategies to reduce birth defects associated with maternal metabolic conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows lipid metabolism is important for development, and this study builds on that by focusing on embryonic neural tube-specific roles.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Niswander, Lee a. — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Niswander, Lee a.
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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.