Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center received a $694,250 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 March 1, 2026, with completion targeted for December 31, 2029. The research initiative investigates a novel pathway for apolipoprotein B (ApoB) messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation to regulate very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The project builds upon preliminary findings identifying a rare dominant missense mutation in the helicase with zinc finger 2 (HELZ2) gene that demonstrates significant hepatic lipid accumulation independent of obesity, positioning HELZ2 as a critical regulator of hepatic lipid secretion through direct targeting of ApoB mRNA.

The funded research will deliver scientific outputs addressing the mechanisms of MASLD development and potential therapeutic applications for atherosclerosis treatment through three specific research aims. The project combines basic molecular and cellular investigation with the goal of advancing understanding of lipid metabolism dysregulation underlying both MASLD and atherosclerosis, contributing to the NIDDK program's mission to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of metabolic and liver diseases through extramural biomedical research conducted at the Dallas, Texas location.