Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Midwestern University received a $710,812 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, with completion targeted for January 31, 2030. The award supports biomedical research investigating the role of intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) in intestinal nutrient sensing and obesity. The research combines molecular, behavioral, and electrophysiological approaches to elucidate how IPAN activity modulates intestinal glucose absorption, lymphatic lipid transport, and vagal-mediated reward reinforcement—mechanisms implicated in weight gain and metabolic dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes.

The primary deliverables include scientific findings on IPAN function in both lean and obese states, characterization of the molecular machinery driving IPAN hyperactivity associated with obesity phenotypes, and mechanistic understanding of how these enteric neurons influence nutrient uptake and gut-brain signaling. The research is expected to advance fundamental knowledge of intestinal neural regulation in obesity and associated metabolic comorbidities, potentially identifying novel targets for therapeutic intervention in metabolic disease.