Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Chicago received a $123,000 Project Grant award 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) for research conducted from June 16, 2026, through May 31, 2028. The award funds a research project titled "Characterizing Adipocyte Heterogeneity in Response to Metabolic Stress," which aims to advance understanding of how adipose tissue contributes to metabolic disease, particularly insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

The research deliverables include comprehensive characterization of white adipocyte subpopulations and their responses to metabolic stress conditions through an integrated approach combining bench experimentation and computational analysis. Specifically, the project will employ single-nucleus RNA sequencing and cellular models to examine how diverse stimuli—including high-fat diet and cold exposure—influence adipocyte development and specification across individuals with varying clinical characteristics. The research will generate data on intra-individual variation in adipocyte response to stimuli and establish relationships between adipocyte state and metabolic disease development, ultimately informing potential therapeutic targeting strategies for adipocyte subpopulations. Research activities are performed at the University of Chicago's Chicago, Illinois location.