Obesity research — NIH Funding Overview

Why this matters now

The clinical impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists has reshaped obesity research priorities since 2021, expanding NIH portfolios in long-term outcomes, weight regain, neuropsychiatric effects, and combination therapies. Pediatric and equity-focused obesity research has also grown under the Healthy Eating Research initiatives.

How NIH funds this area

Mechanisms span R01, U01, R21, P01, and clinical trial cooperative agreements (U10, U24). The data below covers all NIH awards mentioning obesity in title, abstract, or terms.

Yearly NIH Awards for Obesity research

Counts and total funding per fiscal year from NIH RePORTER. Recent fiscal years may understate final totals because of reporting lag.

Open the full interactive trends view for Obesity research →

Top NIH Institutes (last 90 days)

Which NIH institutes funded the most Obesity projects in the most recent 90-day window.

Common Activity Codes (last 90 days)

Which grant mechanisms (R01, R21, U01, P30, etc.) appeared most often for Obesity in the recent period.

Most Active Institutions (last 90 days)

Universities and research organizations with the most Obesity awards in the most recent 90-day window.

1. UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL — 14 awards
2. UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER — 14 awards
3. DUKE UNIVERSITY — 14 awards
4. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY — 13 awards
5. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR — 13 awards
6. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA — 12 awards
7. UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER — 11 awards
8. UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH — 11 awards

Recently Awarded Obesity research Grants

Twelve most recent awards mentioning Obesity, drawn from NIH RePORTER. Click through to Find PIs for the full investigator search.

• Assessing the impact of exogenous stressors on obesity and pro-inflammatory gene expression

  5R01DK137246-03
  Adolfo Cuevas · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, NY · $533,097 · awarded Apr 24, 2026 · R01

  Obesity has been a persistent public health issue for decades. People with obesity experience higher risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Approximately 42% of adults in the United States currently have obesity. Yet, we still have an inadequate understanding of the etiology of obesity and the upstream drivers that contribute to its development and persistence. Exogenous stress, operating at both interpersonal and residential levels, has been implicated as a potential obesogenic factor. However, the relationship between multiple forms of exogenous stress and adiposity remains understudied. Moreover, the cellular and molecular processes through which such exposures affect physiological function and contribute to excess weight gain are not well understood. This study aims to define the relationship between multiple forms of exogenous stress and adiposity, as well as downstream markers of inflammation, in order to inform prevention and treatment strategies that can reduce obesity across the population. Using data from three large, population-based cohort studies—the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, Midlife in the United States, and Health and Retirement Study—we will first assess the associations between residential- and interpersonal-level stress and adiposity indicators (i.e., body mass index and waist circumference). We will then examine whether these exposures are associated with alterations in leukocyte gene expression profiles related to inflammatory pathways, identify relevant cellular and molecular mechanisms, and test whether gene expression mediates the relationship between exogenous stress and adiposity. Finally, we will evaluate the moderating effect of network engagement on these associations. This project will lay the groundwork for future research on exogenous stress and age-related health outcomes, and inform strategies to promote healthier metabolic functioning across the life course.

• The effects of eating a high fat diet on the therapeutic and abuse-related effects of morphine

  5R16GM149426-04
  Katherine Serafine · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO, TX · $151,360 · awarded Apr 24, 2026 · R16

  Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. This section must be no longer than 30 lines of text. Opioid use disorder (OUD) and obesity are major comorbid public health concerns that are increasing in national prevalence. OUD contributes to approximately 68% of all drug overdose deaths in the U.S., and obesity is a leading source of all-cause mortality. Patients diagnosed with obesity are also frequently diagnosed with chronic pain conditions and are more likely to be prescribed opioids. Further, obesity is highly prevalent among individuals with OUD, and is associated with higher risk for opioid overdose. This suggests that individuals with obesity have an increased risk both of being prescribed opioid analgesics and developing OUD; however, the physiological mechanisms that underlie these risks are not well understood. Obesity is linked to the consumption of high fat diets; however, it is not known if the risks related to OUD among patients diagnosed with obesity are due to this dietary history. This NIH SuRE R16 proposal investigates the impact of diet on the therapeutic, rewarding, and adverse effects of morphine, using behavioral and physiological assays in rats. Further, given recent evidence suggesting that high fat, low carbohydrate ketogenic diets might have beneficial effects for obesity, the proposed aims will also explore the effects of a ketogenic diet in addition to a low fat diet control condition. To explore the impact of diet on sensitivity of rats to morphine, animal models of the therapeutic effects of morphine (i.e., antinociception indexed via warm water tail withdrawal and von Frey paw withdrawal assays) and reward (i.e., conditioned place preference and behavioral sensitization) will be examined in Aim 1. Additionally, the adverse effects of morphine including constipation (decreased gastrointestinal transit) and dependence (as measured by the presence or absence of withdrawal symptoms following chronic morphine administration) will also be explored in Aim 2 to mimic the experiences of patients taking opioids chronically for pain management or recreational use. Finally, in Aim 3 this proposal will also evaluate changes in molecular markers within specific brain regions associated with reward processing, feeding, and nociception, to identify targets for future mechanism-driven assessments. These projects will provide a clear picture of the ways that dietary history might impact the therapeutic effectiveness of opioids, as well as their abuse liability, providing a translationally relevant assessment focused on two converging and increasing public health concerns: obesity and OUD. These aims will also involve the training of graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Texas at El Paso, under the direction of the PI, who has a strong track history of mentoring students. Students will be involved in all stages of the proposed aims including experimental design, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and will become first- or co-authors on publications and presentations.

• Adiponectin Signaling in Bladder Function

  1R01DK146795-01
  weiqun yu · BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, MA · $739,141 · awarded Apr 24, 2026 · R01

  Abstract: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) not only impact the quality of life for the patients, but also impose a significant economic burden on society. LUTS is strongly associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of this association are unclear. Adipose tissue not only functions as an energy storage organ but also plays an important endocrine role by releasing adipokines to signal other organs, thereby regulating metabolism, inflammation, and cellular functions. Whether dysregulated adipokines lead to LUTS is unknown. Adiponectin (ADPN) is the most abundant adipokine, which exhibits an inverse association with obesity/metabolic syndrome. ADPN plays a crucial role in metabolic homeostasis through its anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects, and mice lacking ADPN develop insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and a shortened lifespan. Our data demonstrated that global ADPN-deleted mice exhibited increased voiding frequency, small voids, and reduced bladder smooth muscle (BSM) contractility, with corresponding metabolic and purinergic pathway changes. Furthermore, activation of ADPN receptor (AdpioR) signaling by agonist AdipoRon profoundly inhibited acute BSM contraction. These data indicate that ADPN plays an important role in regulating acute BSM contractility and chronic BSM cell phenotype. We therefore propose a novel hypothesis that dysregulation of ADPN signaling constitutes a major pathway leading to LUTS associated with obesity/metabolic syndrome. We will examine our hypothesis through the following two aims. Aim 1. We will determine the distinct role of adipocyte-secreted and BSM- autocrine ADPN in bladder function. We will create an adipose-specific ADPN knockout model and a smooth muscle-specific ADPN knockout model to test its role in regulating BSM contractile function and BSM cell phenotype. We will further determine the plasma ADPN levels and molecular mechanisms in these distinct ADPN deletion mouse models. AdipoRon, a potent AdipoR agonist will be used to test whether the bladder abnormalities in a specific ADPN-deleted model can be reversed. Aim 2. We will define ADPN signaling pathways in the bladder. Both ADPN receptors 1 (AdipoR1) and 2 (AdipoR2) are expressed in BSM cells. We propose that activation of the cell membrane expressed AdipoR1 sequentially regulates downstream PLC/IP3/ Ca2+/CaMKKb/AMPK pathway, which acutely regulates BSM contraction-relaxation by modulating the balance of myosin light chain kinase and/or myosin light chain phosphatase. We also hypothesize that intracellular localized AdipoR2 mediates PPARa transcriptional activation of genes for cell metabolism and proliferation, leading to chronic regulation of BSM cell phenotype. We will further examine how ADPN signaling impacts insulin signaling and thus contributes to BSM phenotypic and functional changes. We have created smooth muscle-specific AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 mouse models to test our hypothesis. Understanding these novel mechanisms for obesity/metabolic syndrome-associated LUTS will facilitate novel therapeutic strategies.

• Systems Immunology profiling of respiratory viral infections in vulnerable populations

  5U19AI167891-05
  Carmen Mikacenic · BENAROYA RESEARCH INST AT VIRGINIA MASON, WA · $2,283,860 · awarded Apr 24, 2026 · U19

  SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – OVERALL Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) are the most frequently occurring global illness producing significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in vulnerable populations. Children suffer higher frequencies of ARVI and often experience re-infections. Common chronic diseases of childhood, most notably asthma but also allergies (atopy) and obesity, can predispose to increased severity of ARVI. Similarly, adults with chronic inflammatory diseases or on immunosuppression suffer significant consequences from ARVI. Adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased risk for infection and respiratory mucosal inflammation may contribute to autoimmune disease severity. The goal of this research program is to understand the molecular and cellular immune signatures of the vulnerable host response to ARVI to identify novel therapies and individuals at risk for clinical complications. The program includes a detailed systems immunology assessment of acute and long-term airway and adaptive systemic immune responses to naturally occurring ARVI. The first project will identify how asthma, atopy, and obesity lead to maladaptive immune responses to ARVI in pediatric subjects. The second project will examine host response to ARVI in adults with RA. RA is a disease provoked by environmental stimuli like respiratory infections and RA patients have baseline immune differences. These projects are complementary and synergistic by utilizing similar sample types and timing of sample collection, and common clinical endpoints. The individual projects benefit from shared multi-omics approaches through a Genomics Core for the sample processing and generation of airway host transcriptome, proteome, epithelial methylation, and viral quantity and expression data, along with host genetics. There is also a shared Adaptive Phenotyping Core for the generation of high dimensional cytometry data to broadly characterize immune cell phenotypes and for detailed identification of antigen-specific cells. This will allow for direct comparisons to be made between the adult and pediatric cohorts to identify common and divergent responses to ARVI. In the Overall, the first Specific Aim is to determine similar and divergent host responses to ARVI considering the pediatric allergy/asthma (Project 1) and adult RA (Project 2) cohorts. The second Specific Aim is to consider these host responses in the context of other large publicly-funded studies of viral infection through meta-analyses. The final Specific Aim will be to develop predictive spatiotemporal models of how mucosal and systemic immune responses to ARVI influence clinical outcomes. Our research program will produce novel mechanistic insights into the diversity and commonality of human immune responses to acute respiratory viruses and use cutting- edge methods to identify potential therapies. PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – PROJECT 1 Acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) are the most frequently occurring global illness producing significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in vulnerable populations. Children suffer higher frequencies of ARVI than adults and often experience re-infections. Common chronic diseases of childhood, most notably asthma but also allergies (atopy) and obesity, can predispose to increased severity of ARVI. The goal of Project 1 is to understand the longitudinal airway and systemic, innate and adaptive, immune responses to ARVI in vulnerable groups of children with asthma, atopy, and obesity compared to control children without these comorbidities. Furthermore, we will link these responses to clinical outcomes including infection duration and severity. Project 1 is highly synergistic with Project 2 and the Overall program by utilizing similar sample types, timing of sample collection, and common clinical endpoints; it differs by studying a distinct population of at-risk children and it includes disease specific assessments of allergic immune responses. Project 1 benefits from the overall program’s shared multi-omics approaches through a Genomics Core for the sample processing and generation of airway host transcriptome, proteome, DNA methylation, and viral quantity and expression data, along with host genetics. Similarly, it shares the Adaptive Phenotyping Core for the generation of high dimensional cytometry data to broadly characterize immune cell phenotypes and for detailed identification of antigen-specific cells. The first aim will determine differences in longitudinal respiratory innate immune profiles in children with and without asthma, atopy, and obesity in response to ARVI using multi-omic assessments of airway samples. The second aim will determine differences in short-term and long-term adaptive cellular responses including a detailed characterization of viral-specific and allergen-specific T cell populations. The third aim will utilize single cell gene expression, TCR/BCR sequencing, and surface protein quantification (TotalSeq) to provide cell specific granularity of both mucosal and systemic responses. This study will determine networks of airway and systemic immune pathways that lead to adaptive and maladaptive responses to ARVI in vulnerable children. Our research program will produce novel mechanistic insights into the diversity and commonality of immune responses to ARVI and use cutting-edge methods to provide novel insights for future studies of disease prevention and treatment.

• Neutrophils play a pivotal role in vascular aging

  5R01HL168560-04
  Zhen Jiang · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS, MA · $526,476 · awarded Apr 24, 2026 · R01

  Abstract Arterial stiffness is a hallmark of vascular aging and is related to increased cardiovascular disease events and vascular dementias. Inflammatory damage and extracellular matrix remodeling have been proposed as the major pathological causes of vascular injury and arterial stiffness. However, the molecular mechanisms that initiate and propagate aging-related pathological changes in large blood vessels remain unclear. Here, we propose to study the role of neutrophil elastase (NE), a neutrophil-specific protease, in initiating vascular leakage, inflammation and fibrosis in aged mice both with and without obesity. Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes, have a short lifespan, and play a critical role in initiating tissue damage and inflammation. Our data demonstrated (1) that pulse wave velocity (PWV), the primary parameter of arterial stiffness, was decreased in NE knockout (NEKO) mice compared to their wild-type littermates, and (2) that NEKO mice were resistant to aging-related inflammation, fibrosis and calcification in the aorta. We also observed that NE has potent effects on increasing vascular endothelial permeability and enhancing aortic smooth muscle cell fibrogenic and osteogenic phenotypic switch. Further, NE regulates neutrophil proinflammatory phenotype by degrading longevity regulator Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1). Based on our preliminary data, we hypothesize that pro-inflammatory neutrophils interact with blood vessels, causing vascular damage and remodeling through the release of NE. The latter contributes to the increased vascular permeability, fibrotic remodeling and calcification in the blood vessels. Thus, inhibiting NE may lead to protective effects on aging-related vascular damage, fibrotic remodeling, calcification, and subsequent arterial stiffness. The objective of this RO1 proposal is to explore how neutrophils and NE regulate inflammatory remodeling in the arterial wall during the aging process with or without feeding of an obesogenic diet. We will explore whether NE contributes to vascular aging by activating protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and epithelium sodium channel (ENaC) signaling pathways in vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells with both in vitro and in vivo studies. Also, we will examine the role of the NE–Sirt1 signaling pathway in the regulation of neutrophil phenotype and aging-related vascular injury and remodeling in mice. Finally, we will evaluate potential therapeutic effects of a selective NE inhibitor on aging-related arterial stiffness in mice. Successful completion of this project will provide a novel therapeutic strategy for vascular aging and related diseases.

• The Programming Research in Obesity, GRowth, Environment and Social Stress (PROGRESS) Cohort

  3R24ES028522-08S2
  Maria Rosa · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI, NY · $40,189 · awarded Apr 24, 2026 · R24

  The ongoing PROGRESS birth cohort is a collaborative study founded in 2007 by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico. Over 16 years, PROGRESS has been supported by 20 NIH grants led by 15 different researchers including 11 K awards. In this proposal, we seek to expand our understanding of the child and adolescent home exposome, because a large proportion of social and chemical exposures occur in the home throughout the critical period of childhood. Combined with our extensive collection of data characterizing the internal and chemical environments (e.g., air pollution, metal exposures), our novel approaches to characterize the chemical and social home environment (bioethnographies, passive sampling) will enable new research on the impact of these exposures on children’s health. Our longstanding team includes expertise in exposure science, biostatistics, child health phenotyping, and cohort management; here, we add new expertise in bioethnographic methods (Co-I E Roberts), public health economics (Co-I JL Figueroa-Oropeza), and environmental sensors for community engagement (Collaborator R Toledo-Crow). This proposal also funds our continued collection of standardized, validated measures to assess neurodevelopmental, respiratory, and metabolic outcomes, enabling us to collaborate with other cohorts and consortia focused on children’s environmental health. In recognition of the extraordinary range of skills of the PROGRESS team, and to invest in the study’s long-term success by recognizing their talent and potential, the former PI, Dr. Robert Wright, has transitioned leadership to MPIs Drs. Maria José Rosa, Megan Horton, and Martha Maria Téllez-Rojo. Further, Dr. Wright will remain part of PROGRESS, providing access to his organizational knowledge and cohort history. This transition enables the next generation of PROGRESS researchers to build a modern, team-based cohort implementing programs to enhance participation and retention, adapting to advances in social media, and assessing new life stage-based health outcomes and exposures, as we prepare for future big data consortia research. This proposal links exposure scientists, statisticians, social epidemiologists, anthropologists, economists, and pediatricians to create modern team-based transdisciplinary science to follow PROGRESS children throughout the critical and understudied adolescent period. Finally, this application offers the rare ability to link prenatal life to adolescent health immediately, leveraging our high retention rates to extend cohort life stage coverage all the way to the doorstep of adulthood. Thus, this U24 award is a unique opportunity that will ultimately inform interventions to protect child health through adolescence, adulthood, and even further into the life course.

• The Programming Research in Obesity, GRowth, Environment and Social Stress (PROGRESS) Cohort

  3R24ES028522-08S1
  Maria Rosa · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI, NY · $86,170 · awarded Apr 24, 2026 · R24

  The ongoing PROGRESS birth cohort is a collaborative study founded in 2007 by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and the National Institute of Public Health in Mexico. Over 16 years, PROGRESS has been supported by 20 NIH grants led by 15 different researchers including 11 K awards. In this proposal, we seek to expand our understanding of the child and adolescent home exposome, because a large proportion of social and chemical exposures occur in the home throughout the critical period of childhood. Combined with our extensive collection of data characterizing the internal and chemical environments (e.g., air pollution, metal exposures), our novel approaches to characterize the chemical and social home environment (bioethnographies, passive sampling) will enable new research on the impact of these exposures on children’s health. Our longstanding team includes expertise in exposure science, biostatistics, child health phenotyping, and cohort management; here, we add new expertise in bioethnographic methods (Co-I E Roberts), public health economics (Co-I JL Figueroa-Oropeza), and environmental sensors for community engagement (Collaborator R Toledo-Crow). This proposal also funds our continued collection of standardized, validated measures to assess neurodevelopmental, respiratory, and metabolic outcomes, enabling us to collaborate with other cohorts and consortia focused on children’s environmental health. In recognition of the extraordinary range of skills of the PROGRESS team, and to invest in the study’s long-term success by recognizing their talent and potential, the former PI, Dr. Robert Wright, has transitioned leadership to MPIs Drs. Maria José Rosa, Megan Horton, and Martha Maria Téllez-Rojo. Further, Dr. Wright will remain part of PROGRESS, providing access to his organizational knowledge and cohort history. This transition enables the next generation of PROGRESS researchers to build a modern, team-based cohort implementing programs to enhance participation and retention, adapting to advances in social media, and assessing new life stage-based health outcomes and exposures, as we prepare for future big data consortia research. This proposal links exposure scientists, statisticians, social epidemiologists, anthropologists, economists, and pediatricians to create modern team-based transdisciplinary science to follow PROGRESS children throughout the critical and understudied adolescent period. Finally, this application offers the rare ability to link prenatal life to adolescent health immediately, leveraging our high retention rates to extend cohort life stage coverage all the way to the doorstep of adulthood. Thus, this U24 award is a unique opportunity that will ultimately inform interventions to protect child health through adolescence, adulthood, and even further into the life course.

• SF1 neurons and sympathetic regulation of glucose homeostasis

  5R01DK100659-11
  JOEL ELMQUIST · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER, TX · $535,772 · awarded Apr 24, 2026 · R01

  PROJECT SUMMARY Exercise induces a wider-range of physiological responses, such as the changes in skeletal muscle, hepatic glucose metabolism and intermediary metabolism. These responses involve a coordinated multi-organ crosstalk between the brain, liver and skeletal muscle. A region in the brain knowns as the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) plays a critical role in the regulation of metabolism and the metabolic responses to exercise .The VMH is thought to act primarily through the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the release of catelcholamines, which then bind to adrenergic receptors in target tissues. We hypothesize that the VMH mediates some of the metabolic benefits of exercise via the β2AR isoform in skeletal muscle, and the α1bAR isoform in liver. The goal of this application is to investigate the contributions of these tissue-specific isoforms to the metabolic benefits of exercise using novel genetically engineered mice and novel metabolic flux analysis methods. We anticipate that the results from our investigation will provide novel insights into potential therapies to combat metabolic disease.

• Epitranscriptomic regulation in the mammalian nervous system

  5R35NS137480-02
  Guo-li Ming · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, PA · $985,026 · awarded Apr 24, 2026 · R35

  Epitranscriptomics, analogous to the epigenetic code formed by DNA and histone modifications, is the study of more than 170 chemically distinct types of RNA modifications, which modulate nearly all aspects of RNA metabolism, such as splicing, translocation, decay, stability, and translation. The recent profound success of COVID19 mRNA vaccines utilizing the pseudo-uridine modification highlights the translational potential of epitranscriptomics. Emerging evidence suggests diverse roles and mechanisms of dynamic RNA modifications in the mammalian nervous system and the association of epitranscriptomic dysregulations with developmental, neurological, psychiatric, and degenerative brain disorders. The majority of recent epitranscriptomic studies used cultured immortalized cell lines and the physiological functions of various RNA modifications remain largely unexplored. Recent technical advances in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain organoids and genome editing open doors to investigate epitranscriptomic regulation in human brain development processes and associated brain disorders. The overarching goal of this research program is to investigate roles and mechanisms of epitranscriptomic regulation in the development and function of the mammalian nervous system, and pathological consequences of disrupting these processes, using both mouse and human iPSC-derived 2D and 3D brain organoid models. There are three interrelated projects designed to test innovative hypotheses and generate foundational data for the field. In Project 1, we will focus on the development of the hypothalamus, an understudied brain region that regulates many key physiological functions, such as sleep, reproduction, and feeding, through its distinct nuclei. Based on our preliminary finding of adult-onset obesity of mice with defective m6A signaling, we will test the hypothesis that m6A signaling regulates the fate specification of neural stem cells in the arcuate nucleus for generating feeding-related neurons both in mice and human arcuate organoids. In Project 2, we will use novel sequencing technology to reveal the landscape of locally translated transcripts at synapses and investigate the role of m6A signaling in regulating activity-dependent local translation of these transcripts at synapses in the mouse hippocampus and human hippocampal organoids. In Project 3, we will focus on several risk genes associated with microcephaly that encode writer proteins for diverse epitranscriptomic modifications beyond m6A. We will generate isogenic iPSC lines and genetically modified animal models to test the functional roles and mechanisms of these RNA modifications in cortical neurogenesis. Together, we will use several orthogonal approaches to investigate functional roles and mechanisms of neuroepitranscriptomics in regulating the mammalian nervous system and its causal roles in mediating some forms of developmental pathology. The research program will also provide a platform to train the next generation of scientists at all career stages. FACILITIES & OTHER RESOURCES The University of Pennsylvania Penn is home to a diverse body of over 20,000 students and over 4,000 faculties in its 12 leading graduate and professional schools. Penn’s schools are located on a compact campus, the geographical unity of which supports and fosters its multidisciplinary approach to education, scholarship, and research. Research and research training are substantial and esteemed enterprises, bolstered by an annual University budget of $6 billion. Penn’s 165 research centers and institutes bring together researchers from multiple departments, schools, and disciplines, and interdisciplinary collaboration is a key theme for Penn’s academic enterprises. The Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the 18th year in a row. The PSOM prides itself on the vision that education should be oriented toward combining theory and practice for the betterment of humanity. The PSOM has an internationally renowned research faculty and programs in all fundamental areas of basic and clinical biomedical science. The PSOM boasts a long record of innovation in both clinical and basic science, resulting in numerous landmark achievements, and is supported by state-of-the-art research core facilities and major clinical research facilities. Research and clinical training programs at Penn Medicine span the full range of participants – from high school and undergraduate students, through MD, PhD and master’s-level trainees, to postdoctoral and clinical residents and fellows. The PSOM has the nation’s largest combined degree training program, which is supported by one of the nation’s oldest and largest NIH- MSTP grants. My lab is fortunate to have talented young individuals from all these programs. Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IRM) I am the Associate Director of IRM, an Institute at Penn and a community of scientists working to explore ways to use cells and tissues to repair, rebuild, and replace organs and body systems afflicted by disease. IRM encourages collaborations across different fields of biology, engineering, and medicine. IRM provides an enriched environment for over 100 core labs with monthly stem cell clubs (organized by Dr. Ming) and faculty lunches, Annual Ralph Brinster Symposium and themed IRM symposiums and retreats. Our initial collaboration with neurosurgeon Dr. Issac Chen was established through IRM sponsored activities. IRM also provides a platform for trainees to interact and present their data in poster and short talk sessions at annual and themed symposiums. The Epigenetic Institute I am a member of the Epigenetics Institute, which was established in 2017 to bring together the epigenetics community at Penn, providing a space where scientific endeavors could flourish. With over 38 core labs, the Institute has created an unparalleled environment for collaboration and cutting-edge research, which is often published in top-tier journals. Faculty regularly collaborate with clinical investigators to conduct translational research that advances medical breakthroughs. I have been collaborating with several members, including Drs. Hongjun Song and Kathy Liu, of the Institute, and will continue our productive collaboration on the work proposed here. The Epigenetics also provides a platform for trainees into interact and present their data in poster and short talk sessions at annual and themed symposiums. The Institute for Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism (IDOM) The IDOM was established in 2005 to address the ever-increasing prevalence of diabetes and obesity. The mission of the IDOM is to enhance and support research aimed at understanding the genetic, biochemical, molecular, environmental, and behavioral mechanisms underlying diabetes and obesity. IDOM initiatives include critical and unique scientific core facilities, and pilot grants that support new investigators as well as interdisciplinary science involving investigators from Penn Medicine and throughout the University of Pennsylvania that are relevant to the IDOM mission. We are collaborating with Dr. Lazar, the founding director of IDOM on the proposed project. We are also using the IDOM Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping Core to characterize the obesity phenotype of our genetically modified mice. The Penn Institute for RNA Innovation I am a member of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, which was recently established by Dr. Drew Weissman and dedicated to the understanding and development of all things RNA and will help form collaborations that will unify and link all elements from RNA-based basic science through therapeutic activities. There is a specific interest in RNA modifications in the institute with many investigators working on topics from basic science to therapeutic. It provides an enriching environment for the proposed studies in the current proposal and excellent training environment for trainees. Additional Neuroscience-related Core Research Support Facilities There are many biomedical research core facilities at Penn that are managed in a centralized manner. As a faculty member of PSOM, I have full access to the following Cores (relevant to the work proposed): The Cell & Developmental Biology (CDB) Microscopy Core is a full-service facility serving the entire Penn community. The Core provides personalized assistance on all aspects of imaging from consultation on experiment design to assisted imaging or hands-on training. The CDB also provides resources to help with image data analysis. The facility currently houses three laser scanning confocals, two spinning disk confocals, a widefield deconvolution microscope, and two widefield microscopes for routine work. In addition, the facility also houses a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and offers SEM sample preparation services. The Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Resource Laboratory is currently recognized as one of the largest and most comprehensive flow cytometry laboratories in the US. In 2010 it was designated a laboratory of exceptional merit by the National Cancer Institute. Using state-of-the-art technology, the resource provides a broad array of instrumentation, support, education and consultation to the research community at the University of Pennsylvania. A wide variety of cell sorting applications are supported, from high-speed multicolor (up to 14 colors) cell sorting to low-speed, large nozzle, improved viability sorting. Additionally, a wide variety of cell analysis services (up to 20 parameters) are offered, from traditional analog, easier to use tabletop analyzers to many-laser, many-color, high-speed, fully-digital modern instrumentation. Currently the facility offers 6 cell sorters and 19 analytical instruments. The Vector Core facility is an important technological resource for investigators, both within the University of Pennsylvania investigators and those external to Penn, interested in the use of vectors for gene transfer. The main objective of this Core is to provide investigators with access to state-of-the-art vector technology for preclinical studies and other basic research applications. Such studies provide tools critical to the understanding of gene function and development of therapeutic vectors. The Next Generation Sequencing Core offers ultra-high throughput sequencing services for the PSOM research community. We offer library quality assessments, sequencing, and optional preliminary data analysis for a wide variety of experimental protocols including ChIP-seq, RNA-Seq, HITS-CLIP, miR-Seq, exome capture, and BIS-seq. The Penn Genomic Analysis Core is comprised of the DNA Sequencing Facility (DSF) and the Molecular Profiling Facility (MPF). The Molecular Profiling Facility provides an integrated set of services for DNA and RNA profiling. These services are delivered by experienced genomics professionals, including a focused bioinformatics support staff. PSOM faculty benefit from consultations and training available throughout their projects, including during experimental design and budget development, sample accrual, Facility quality control assays and lab work, data management and analyses, and manuscript preparation. The core supports quantitative RNA profiling by Affymetrix GeneChips, Illumina BeadChips, real-time PCR, Sequenom custom multiplex assays, Fluidigm, Luminex and deep sequencing. DNA profiling of custom panels of sequence polymorphisms are conducted by quantitative PCR, Sequenom assays, and Illumina GoldenGate genotyping, while whole-genome assays are available on Affymetrix SNP GeneChip and Illumina Infinium platforms. Whole-exome and targeted genomic regions can be resequenced on an Illumina Genome Analyzer deep sequencer. Several other services including microRNA profiling, epigenetic DNA assays, and translational molecular diagnostics for clinical research are offered using these platforms. The Transgenic and Chimeric Mouse Facility provides a centralized service to efficiently produce infection-free transgenic, chimeric, and genome-edited strains of mice. These mice carry randomly inserted transgenes and/or site-specific alterations in the mouse genome of specific interest to Penn researchers. The Facility offers services including DNA pronuclear injection into fertilized oocytes (along with genotyping of transgenic founders), ES cell injection into blastocysts, cytoplasmic/pronuclear injections into fertilized oocytes of CRISPR-Cas9 mix (gRNA, Cas9RNA, ssDNA/dsDNA templates), embryo and sperm cryopreservation, in vitro fertilization, and re-derivation of live and cryopreserved lines. The Core also oversees a cyropreservation facility for long-term storage of mouse embryos and sperm samples. We have used the core to generate several genetically modified mice and will continue to use it for the current projects.  The Neurobehavior Testing Core provides core facilities and services to test mice in state of the art assays of simple and complex behaviors, including the assessment of circadian rhythms and sleep, learning and memory, motor and sensory function, as well as behavioral assays relevant to translational studies of neurological, neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. The core offers comprehensive behavior phenotyping of your mice or can train your lab personnel to perform the tests in the facility. In addition, we provide consultation on study design including appropriate tests, mouse line/strain, numbers of animals, control groups and breeding strategies. The core will also provide consultation regarding ULAR, IACUC and other regulatory issues. Assistance with data analysis is also available. We have used the core for characterizing of our genetically modified mice and will continue to use it for the current project. The Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF) provides multi-modality radiological imaging and image analysis for cells, tissues, and small animals, primarily mice and rats. The assets of the SAIF include state-of-the-art instrumentation and a nationally recognized staff. SAIF currently provides a comprehensive suite of imaging modalities including: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS), optical imaging (including near IR and bioluminescence imaging), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and ultrasound (US). In addition, dedicate housing is available for mice and rats undergoing longitudinal imaging studies. Ancillary facilities and resources of the SAIF are devoted to chemistry, radiochemistry, image analysis and animal tumor models. Other Relevant Research Resources The Biomedical Library, housed within PSOM, has a large collection of print and electronic journals, as well as many other services. As of July 2010, the Biomedical Library had close to 100,000 volumes, and access to over 6,000 current serials in the health sciences, primarily electronic, and 1,300 e-books. In addition, faculty, students and staff can access all the collections of the Penn Libraries, which number more than 5,000,000 printed volumes, more than 40,000 online and print journals and thousands of databases, e-books and other digitized resources. The Library's holdings are supplemented by membership in the National Network/Libraries of Medicine and many other resource-sharing consortia, and electronic delivery of documents is standard. The Biomedical Library houses 80 public workstations, several printers and a scanner, a poster printing service, a 10-station training lab, a wireless network throughout the library, and sixteen lending-laptops. Group study rooms are outfitted with computers and large flat screen monitors. Biomedical Library staff can provide in- library and off-site training and individual research consults in searching life science databases (Medline, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, ISI Web of Science, etc.), use of bibliographic management software (RefWorks), and research and productivity skills (mobile resources, systematic reviews, retrieving full text articles, PowerPoint, Excel, molecular biology tools). The Research Instrumentation Shop is non-profit, shared resource machine shop of the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine. Its mission is to assist University faculty in the design and construction of both laboratory and clinical instrumentation. The staff is comprised of mechanical and optical specialists and is experienced with working with scientists to design and construct custom instrumentation and apparatus. Career development and support for trainees The Perelman School of Medicine and University of Pennsylvania have established offices, programs, and research opportunities for trainees. These resources provide additional support for all trainees and are accessible to undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral associates. Undergraduates may apply for internship funding through the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships. Current trainees have access to the Trainee Advocacy Alliance, which provides broad support for trainees at all levels. Postdoctoral associates have access to institutional support offices, such as the Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs Office, the Faculty Professional Development Office, and the Office of Research Support Services, which support career development. The Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs Office provides responsible conduct in research training, lab management workshops, career services, and grant writing seminars. The Faculty Professional Development Office offers workshops focused on career topics, such as mentoring, tenure track tips and science communication, as well as online courses and resources. The Office of Research Support Services provides help with grant proposal preparation and post-award grant management, as well as online access to internal and external funding opportunities. Laboratory The Ming laboratory is assigned approximately 2500 sq. ft. space in the Clinical Research Building (CRB) with seven bays of bench space. The laboratory has six individual rooms that are fully equipped to support cell culture, molecular biology, bioinformatics, cell biology, biochemistry, immunohistology, stereology, electrophysiology, optogenetics, confocal imaging, and CNS histology. Office and administrative space: Dr. Ming has 230 sq. ft. of personal office space in CRB and ~300 sq. ft. of space for administrative support and meeting rooms.

• Resolution of inflammation and atrial fibrillation

  3R01HL165704-04S1
  SAMUEL DUDLEY · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, MN · $83,863 · awarded Apr 24, 2026 · R01

  Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress are common in patients with AF. In atrial cardiomyocytes (CMs), AF can be precipitated by NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β secretion. Since we have established cardiac NLRP3 activation and IL-1β can lead to AF, we will study upstream modulators of the cardiac NLRP3 inflammasome that can be manipulated to reduce AF risk in DM. We have found that enzymes producing pro-inflammatory molecules are elevated and inflammation resolving molecules are reduced in atria from humans and mice with DM. Specifically, we have found increased 12- lipoxygenase (12-LOX, encoded by ALOX12), an enzyme that processes arachidonic acid (AA) to pro- inflammatory metabolites in humans and mice. In humans and mice, we have found that cardiac pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) are reduced, leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 6 (LGR6, encoded by LGR6), a recently described receptor of SPMs, is downregulated, and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH; encoded by HPGD), an enzyme in the inactivation of SPMs, is increased in DM atria. Hypotheses to be tested: Since SPMs can reduce NLRP3 activation, this application explores whether DM- associated AF risk can be mitigated by enhancing SPM signaling by reducing inflammatory lipid mediator production (12-LOX inhibition), enhancing SPM signaling (upregulation of LGR6), or reducing SPM degradation (downregulating of 15-PGDH). Specific aims: Aim 1: Determine whether inhibition of cardiac 12-LOX upregulation can reduce atrial NLRP3 activation and AF burden in DM. Specific Aim 2: Determine whether upregulation of cardiac LGR6 can reduce atrial NLRP3 activation and AF burden in DM. Specific Aim 3: Determine whether downregulation of cardiac 15-PGDH can reduce atrial NLRP3 activation and AF burden in DM. Significance: This application explores new treatment paradigms of encouraging inflammation resolution to prevent DM-induced AF. Using parallel experiments in humans and mice will provide mechanistic insights and strengthen clinical relevance. A focus on prevention rather than treatment is novel and could prevent significant morbidity associated with AF onset.

• Enhancing capacity in faith-based organizations to implement and sustain multilevel innovations to improve physical activity

  5R01HL158538-05
  Elva Arredondo · SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY, CA · $677,977 · awarded Apr 23, 2026 · R01

  PROJECT SUMMARY Despite the benefits of physical activity (PA) to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other chronic diseases, few adult Latinas meet PA guidelines. Given the central role of faith-based organizations (FBOs) within the Latino community and their commitment to the well-being of their members, FBOs are ideal settings for health promotion. Evidence-based approaches for increasing PA and reducing obesity such as Faith in Action exist, but few PA interventions go to scale. Implementation strategies that enhance the capacity of FBO leaders and community health workers (promotoras) to implement EBIs can facilitate their uptake. We propose to enhance Faith in Action with three organization-level strategies designed to increase program fit and effectiveness: 1) training FBO leaders in health promotion 2) tailoring messaging to enhance fit between Faith in Action and each unique FBO context, and 3) empowering promotoras to advocate for organizational change. Given the need to improve strategies to sustain health programs in community settings, we propose to test the influence of two additional sustainment strategies: 1) strengthening community collaborations and 2) providing technical support. We will conduct a hybrid type II effectiveness-implementation trial using a clustered RCT design to test the impact of the proposed implementation strategies on organization-level change and individual behavior in diverse FBOs for a 12-month intervention and 6-month follow-up. Thirty-two FBOs will be randomly assigned to a Standard EBI condition (Faith in Action as originally implemented), an Enhanced condition (Standard condition + organizational-level implementation strategies), or Enhanced + Sustainment condition (Enhanced implementation condition + sustainment strategies). We will collect quantitative and qualitative data at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months post baseline. The proposed study aims to: 1) Test the short and long-term impacts of organization-level implementation strategies in 2 Enhanced conditions on organizational outcomes compared to the Standard EBI condition, 2) Examine individual reach and effectiveness among Latinas (n=812) in FBOs in the 2 Enhanced conditions compared to the Standard EBI condition. Secondary aims examine theoretical mechanisms of action (e.g., organizational climate) and the additional impact of two sustainment strategies. Informed by the Practical Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) and Reach Effectiveness-Adoption Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) frameworks, the current study will use mixed methods to adapt Faith in Action to diverse FBOs. This research is innovative because it experimentally tests organization-level implementation strategies and their associated mechanism of action in Latino FBOs' from diverse denominations. Our findings will impact the field by providing rigorously derived evidence for the scale-up of innovative EBIs in FBOs. If successful, findings from the current study will provide evidence of organizational-level strategies for uptake, sustainment, and generalizable implementation strategies for scale-up of PA interventions to increase PA and reduce chronic disease in FBOs across the US.

• Interventions to Decrease Cancer Information Avoidance

  5R01CA276430-02
  Heather Orom · STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO, NY · $483,266 · awarded Apr 22, 2026 · R01

  ABSTRACT Health information avoidance is an overlooked threat to the reach and effectiveness of health communication. For a given health threat, 20%-30% of the general population tends to avoid initiating information seeking or avoid exposure to information. To fully realize the benefits of our sizeable investments in health messaging, we need to identify strategies for reducing health information avoidance. We will test a video-based strategy for promoting colorectal cancer screening designed to reduce defensive colorectal cancer information avoidance and increase message reach by increasing engagement among those who would otherwise avoid the message. Colorectal cancer is a suitable domain for developing the intervention as it is the fourth most common and second deadliest cancer in the United States, but also one of the most preventable with screening. Health communication that reaches people who otherwise avoid colorectal cancer information (about 20% of the population) has the potential to improve screening rates as people who avoid colorectal cancer information are less likely to be adherent to colorectal cancer screening guidelines. The intervention is grounded in a theoretically and empirically based conceptual model of defensive health information avoidance, and incorporates components that increase agency beliefs and positive affect. We have demonstrated its efficaciousness for increasing self-efficacy and screening intentions in a pilot study (N=710). Specific Aim 1 is to conduct a rigorous randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the effects of the intervention video to an attentional control video on screening intentions and uptake. It will confirm the intervention’s purported mechanisms, increasing self-efficacy and positive affect, and its relative efficacy in avoiders and non-avoiders. Participants will be people who tend to avoid colorectal cancer information (n=750) and those who do not (n=750), recruited from Ipsos’s nationally representative, probability based KnowledgePanel. Specific Aims 2 and 3 are pragmatic trials to test the effectiveness of the intervention in primary care settings. In Aim 2, we will conduct a two-arm randomized controlled trial to compare colorectal cancer screening uptake in patients (n≈2,500) who are not screening adherent and who either receive text messages inviting them to view the video intervention and request screening or no text messages. In Aim 3, we will conduct a two-arm pragmatic trial comparing screening uptake in non-adherent patients who will be sent an at-home screening Cologuard test. Patients will be randomized to receive a primer email beforehand with or without the intervention video. The research will test an empirically based strategy for reaching people who would otherwise avoid colorectal cancer screening messages that is mHealth ready, can be disseminated via text, email, patient portals or in physician offices, or disseminated via social or mass media. The intervention strategy is generalizable beyond colorectal cancer control, because health information avoidance is common across a range of health threats.

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