Understanding how organs talk using hormones and blood signals
Integrative approaches to dissection of endocrine communication
It maps hormone and blood-borne signals between organs to help people with adult-onset (type 2) diabetes and related metabolic problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159511 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze proteins in blood and gene activity across body tissues using large population datasets and patient samples, then use computer models to find signals that organs send to each other. The team will rank and annotate candidate endocrine proteins with a bioinformatics toolkit and Bayesian/network methods to predict which tissues they target. Top candidate signals will be tested in the lab to confirm how they work and which organs they affect. The overall approach links patterns seen in big data to experimental proof of inter-organ communication relevant to diabetes and cardiovascular health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes or related metabolic and cardiovascular conditions who can provide blood samples or share medical data would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without metabolic or endocrine disorders or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic-to-translational research right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new hormone signals or targets that lead to better diagnostics or treatments for diabetes and related cardiovascular problems.
How similar studies have performed: Previous bioinformatics-driven screens combined with lab validation have identified real inter-tissue signaling molecules, but turning those findings into new treatments remains an early-stage effort.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seldin, Marcus Michael — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Seldin, Marcus Michael
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 below.