Understanding how obesity affects liver and kidney metabolism
Official title: In vivo hepato-renal metabolic flux dysregulation in obesity
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11035203 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being overweight affects how your liver and kidneys work, especially in managing sugar and energy in your body, to find better ways to help people with obesity-related health issues.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $119,711 |
| NIH project number | 5K01DK135924-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11035203 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-related metabolic issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not obese or do not have metabolic disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how obesity alters the metabolic functions of the liver and kidneys, particularly focusing on glucose production and energy metabolism. By using advanced metabolic modeling techniques, the study aims to differentiate the roles of these organs in regulating glucose levels in the body. The research will explore how obesity may lead to increased stress on the kidneys and contribute to metabolic disorders, potentially identifying new treatment strategies to mitigate these effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for metabolic disorders associated with obesity, such as diabetes and kidney disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding metabolic dysregulation in obesity, but this specific approach of differentiating liver and kidney contributions is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hasenour, Clinton Michael — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Hasenour, Clinton Michael
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.