Using genetics and metabolism to personalize weight-loss diets
Official title: Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics for Precision Weight-Loss Diet Interventions
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-11385311 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether genetic and blood-based metabolic information can help tailor weight-loss diets to reduce after-meal blood sugar spikes and hunger for people trying to lose weight.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2018 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $640,990 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK115679-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385311 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults trying to lose weight or manage blood sugar or cardiometabolic risk (for example, people with overweight/obesity or prediabetes) would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without blood sugar or weight concerns, or those with conditions requiring specialized medical nutrition management (such as many people with type 1 diabetes), may not gain direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will combine data and blood samples from three U.S. diet trials and a health cohort to study how people differ in blood sugar responses after meals. They will measure fasting and post-meal metabolites, compare responses to diets that differ in carbohydrate amount and glycemic index, and track changes at weeks, 6 months, and 24 months. The team will link those metabolic changes to appetite, how much people eat, energy use, and weight or cardiometabolic changes. The goal is to find metabolic and genetic signatures that explain who responds best to specific diet approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help create more personalized diet plans that limit blood sugar spikes, reduce appetite, and improve weight loss and heart health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown large individual differences in post-meal blood sugar responses and some benefit from personalized nutrition, but combining genetics and metabolomics for long-term weight-loss guidance is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qi, Lu — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Qi, Lu
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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.