Understanding how obesity affects immune responses
Official title: Dissecting the mechanism of altered immune responses during obesity
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-11058142 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being overweight affects your immune system, especially certain cells that help fight infections and respond to vaccines, to find better ways to help people with obesity stay healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | June 20, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $425,647 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI183125-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11058142 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are classified as obese.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not obese or do not have related metabolic conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the changes in immune responses associated with obesity, focusing on specific immune cells like B cells that may contribute to inflammation and metabolic diseases. The study aims to understand how obesity alters the immune system's ability to respond to infections and vaccines, particularly in the context of the recent coronavirus pandemic. By examining immune cell populations in both humans and animal models, the researchers hope to uncover mechanisms that could lead to improved treatments and interventions for obese patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better vaccine responses and treatment strategies for obese individuals, improving their overall health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding immune responses in obesity can lead to significant advancements in treatment strategies, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leadbetter, Elizabeth Ann — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Leadbetter, Elizabeth Ann
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Understanding how maternal and infant sleep and daily rhythms influence early appetite and obesity risk
This project explores how infant sleep, circadian rhythms, and maternal-infant timing relate to early appetite patterns and the risk of obesity in the first year of life.
-
GLP-1 receptor agonists as immune targets to treat asthma in lean and obese adults
Aims to understand how GLP-1R‑agonist diabetes medicines may directly calm immune cells to reduce asthma in adults who are lean or obese.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
-
Multicomponent lifestyle program to curb obesity and cardiometabolic risk in Samoan children
A locally designed lifestyle program aimed at preventing obesity and heart-disease risk in Samoan kids, with a focus on daily routines, healthy eating, sleep, and family support.
-
Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity manage weight in Nepal
A new app designed for pregnant women in Nepal with overweight or obesity to help manage weight gain during pregnancy and reduce weight retention after birth.
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.