Project Grant RC2DK142611

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded Wayne State University $1.137 million on September 1, 2026, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847) to establish a database characterizing phosphorylation and O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) glycosylation differences in skeletal muscle tissue between insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant individuals. The research examines crosstalk between reversible phosphorylation and O-GlcNAc protein modifications at the same serine and threonine sites on proteins directly involved in insulin signaling, including AKT and FOXO1, to elucidate mechanisms underlying insulin resistance in skeletal muscle—a primary contributor to Type 2 diabetes development. The project addresses an unmet medical need by investigating why an estimated 30 percent of lean individuals display reduced insulin sensitivity despite normal body weight, while 30 percent of obese individuals maintain functional insulin sensitivity. The work will generate an unbiased discovery resource for the metabolic disease research field. Performance occurs in Detroit, Michigan, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through April 30, 2031. The assistance type is a Project Grant.