Understanding why some adults develop severe obesity using genes and metabolism
Leveraging metabolic pathways and gene expression data to propel understanding of severe obesity
This project uses gene activity and metabolite information from adults to learn why some people develop severe obesity (BMI≥40) across diverse populations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143197 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers will analyze existing genetic (GWAS), gene expression (transcriptomics), and metabolite (metabolomics) data from adults with severe obesity collected in the U.S., Central, and South America. They will apply ancestry-aware methods to map expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and metabolomics QTLs and integrate these signals to reveal regulatory pathways linked to very high BMI. The work prioritizes populations that have been underrepresented in prior genomic studies to capture ancestral differences in risk. Results are intended to point to causal genes and metabolic mechanisms that could inform future diagnostics or treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2), including people from diverse ancestral backgrounds in the U.S., Central America, and South America, are the focus of this effort.
Not a fit: People without severe obesity (for example, those with mild or moderate overweight), children, or those expecting immediate new treatments are unlikely to receive direct short-term benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better-targeted prevention or treatment approaches for people with severe obesity, especially in understudied ancestry groups.
How similar studies have performed: Similar GWAS, eQTL, and metabolomics studies have identified risk signals for obesity, but applying integrated, ancestry-aware multi-omics specifically to severe obesity is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gordon-Larsen, Penny — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Gordon-Larsen, Penny
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.