Federal Grant Award Summary

The Ohio State University received a $249,001 Project Grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847), effective April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2029. The research will be conducted in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and focuses on investigating the regulation and maintenance of adipose tissue T cells (ATTs) in obesity-related metabolic dysfunction.

The research program delivers scientific products addressing fundamental gaps in understanding ATT (adipose tissue T cell) biology and function in the obese state. Specifically, the project investigates the mechanisms by which ATTs are maintained and activated in response to high-fat diet feeding, the diversity and memory characteristics of ATT populations, and the regulatory function of a unique double negative T cell subset (TCRαβ CD3+ CD4− CD8−). The research aims to elucidate how ATT proliferation requires signals from antigen-presenting cells and to characterize the role of immunoregulatory ATT populations in maintaining adipose tissue homeostasis during obesity development. These research outcomes will advance understanding of immune mechanisms underlying obesity-related metabolic disorders and potentially identify novel therapeutic targets for preventing type 2 diabetes and related metabolic complications.