Using genetics to personalize risk and find existing medicines for type 2 diabetes and fatty liver
A genomics-based strategy to precision phenotyping and drug repositioning in cardiometabolic diseases
Researchers will use genetic and medical-record data to spot people at higher risk for type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and to identify existing medicines that might help them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11240328 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, this project looks at genes, lab measurements (like blood sugar and liver enzymes), and health records to find the hidden traits that link genes to diabetes and fatty liver. The team will use large datasets such as the UK Biobank and real-world electronic health records to estimate how changing those traits could lower a person’s genetic risk. They will then search for drug targets suggested by the genetics and check whether approved drugs that hit those targets show signals of benefit in real-world data. Finally, promising drug candidates would be validated using additional data sources to prioritize ones that could be repurposed for treating fatty liver and related metabolic problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or people with risk factors such as high blood sugar, obesity, or elevated liver enzymes are the most relevant candidates for the project's findings.
Not a fit: People without cardiometabolic conditions (for example, those with unrelated illnesses) and children are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify people earlier who are on a path to diabetes or fatty liver and point to already-approved drugs that might be repurposed to treat or slow those conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Related genetic approaches and Mendelian randomization have successfully highlighted drug targets in other conditions (for example, PCSK9 for cholesterol), but repurposing specifically for NAFLD is still largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vujkovic, Marijana — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Vujkovic, Marijana
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.