Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) awarded the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center a $755,124 Project Grant effective May 20, 2026, through February 28, 2030, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847). This research project investigates bone marrow adiponectin signaling and its role in immune regulation and hematopoiesis—the generation of new immune and blood cells. The research deliverables include characterization of the bone marrow adiponectin niche, identification of key cellular contributors to adiponectin signaling, and determination of how obesity disrupts adiponectin-mediated cell-cell interactions within the bone marrow microenvironment.

The project employs adiponectin lineage-tracing models, receptor-deficient animal models, and bone marrow transplantation experiments to investigate how bone marrow adiponectin signaling influences B cell development and immune competency. Key research outcomes will elucidate the mechanisms underlying metabolic adaptation and immune homeostasis in obesity and identify potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate obesity-related complications affecting host defense and infection susceptibility. The research addresses a significant gap in understanding adiponectin's direct role in hematopoietic regulation beyond its established metabolic functions, with implications for improving clinical outcomes in metabolic and immune-related disorders.