Federal Grant Award Summary

Tufts University School of Medicine received a $735,358 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), awarded May 21, 2026, with completion targeted for February 28, 2030. This research grant funds investigator-initiated basic biomedical research focused on understanding enteroendocrine cell (EEC) dysfunction in obesity and developing long-term weight management strategies. The project addresses the unmet clinical need for safe, effective alternatives to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists by examining the mechanisms through which dietary obesity impairs EEC function and GLP-1 secretion.

The research deliverables include scientific investigations across three specific aims: (1) determining mechanisms of immune cell-dependent mitochondrial transfer regulating EEC function; (2) identifying pathways through which EECs become senescent; and (3) targeting fatty acid metabolism to restore obesity-induced EEC dysfunction. The project utilizes novel research tools including a proprietary EEC reporter mouse model and gut organoid systems to conduct single-cell transcriptomic analysis and functional tracking. Research activities are performed at the awardee's Boston, Massachusetts location and will advance fundamental understanding of metabolic disease mechanisms, contributing to NIDDK's programmatic objectives in diabetes, metabolic disorders, and obesity research.