Understanding how obesity affects immune cells in fat tissue
Official title: Control of adipose immune-stromal niche topography in obesity
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10951022 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how obesity affects the immune cells in the fat around our organs, with the hope of finding new ways to reduce inflammation and improve health for people dealing with obesity-related issues like diabetes and heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| 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 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $115,949 |
| NIH project number | 1K38HL175025-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10951022 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are experiencing obesity or related metabolic conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or do not have obesity-related health issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of obesity on the immune and stromal cells within visceral adipose tissue, which is the fat located around internal organs. By using advanced techniques like spatial sequencing and confocal microscopy, the study aims to identify new cellular targets that could help reduce inflammation associated with obesity. The goal is to better understand how changes in fat tissue structure contribute to metabolic disorders such as Type II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to new treatments for obesity-related health issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies for managing obesity-related inflammation and its associated health risks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the immune response in obesity, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balcerek, Joanna — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Balcerek, Joanna
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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.