Research Description
Obesity is a major health problem in the United States, with more than 42.4% of adults living with obesity. Obesity not only affects appearance; it also promotes the development of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, as well as shortening life expectancy. Therefore, we need effective ways to treat obesity. Humans have two types of fat: white fat and brown fat. White fat stores extra energy to contribute to obesity, while brown fat burns energy to reduce weight. In addition, brown fat is highly active and plays a significant role in slowing down the development of obesity, offering various health benefits. When a person ages or becomes obese, brown fat turns into white fat, recognized as whitening. So, stopping this process may help to treat obesity. In this study, we found a factor secreted by white fat that may induce brown fat to turn into white fat. Therefore, we will further provide details regarding the effect of this factor on brown fat and how this factor works. We will use various methods such as recombinant proteins, cultured cells, and transgenic mouse models for the study. Completion of this project will provide a new target for developing treatments for obesity, which coincides with the American Diabetes Association's mission to contribute to the mission of improving the lives of people with all types of diabetes.Research Profile
What area of diabetes research does your project cover? What role will this particular project play in preventing, treating and/or curing diabetes?My program delves explicitly into the field of obesity, with the primary goal of identifying novel targets for treating obesity. A close relationship between obesity and type 2 diabetes exists. Obesity is a major contributor to the development of type 2 diabetes, while weight loss is a key strategy to control and treat type 2 diabetes. This program will provide scientific evidence of a novel circulation factor that contributes to thermogenic fat dysfunction and obesity occurrence. As such, the program will significantly impact the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. Our ultimate goal is to translate these findings into practical applications that will enhance preventive measures and therapeutic strategies and potentially facilitate the development of more effective treatments for people with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and its associated complications.
If a person with diabetes were to ask you how your project will help them in the future, how would you respond?My project aims to identify a promising drug target for treating obesity and preventing type 2 diabetes. In human bodies, two types of fat tissues co-exist but execute distinct functions. The white fat stores excessive energy and increases obesity, while the brown fat consumes extra calories and reduces obesity. My research focuses on a circulating factor secreted by white fat, which can cause impaired brown fat function and therefore results in obesity. I believe this factor can serve as a novel drug target of anti-obesity treatment, since this research program provides a paradigm of lowering obesity rate by inhibiting this factor. Furthermore, my discovery is particularly significant for individuals with type-2 diabetes, as obesity is a major contributor to the development and exacerbation of this condition.
Why important for you, personally, to become involved in diabetes research? What role will this award play?Personally, my passion for research, particularly in the realms of obesity and diabetes, has been a driving force throughout my academic journey. During my doctoral period, I dedicated my projects to exploring how inflammation contributes to obesity pathogenesis. Since my postdoctoral career started, I gained a deeper understanding of how adipose tissue mitochondrial function regulates metabolic homeostasis, and together with my mentor, I developed a unique research direction of mitokine-mediated fat tissue crosstalk. These crosstalk factors have a high potential for further investigation of their applications in obesity treatment and type 2 diabetes prevention. This award, the first prestigious award I have received during my postdoctoral period, is an important milestone that means a lot to me throughout my research endeavors. It recognizes my dedication and expertise and gives me confidence in my ability to make meaningful contributions to the fields of obesity and diabetes. This award reinforces my commitment, strengthens my resolve to address critical issues in the field of obesity and metabolic diseases, and provides significant support for my career development.
In what direction do you see the future of diabetes research going?For the future of diabetes research, I foresee two main directions. The first direction is prevention by controlling factors closely related to diabetes occurrence, such as obesity. Timely control of diabetes due to obesity can reduce national medical costs and improve individual life quality. The second aspect is precision treatment, considering the heterogeneity of diabetes related to genetics, metabolism, and lifestyles. Although achieving precise individual treatment may be challenging at present, preliminary classification treatment based on factors like gender, age, and disease stage is feasible. Basic research should align with this classification, studying diversified drug targets or more effective therapeutic measures for diabetes under different categories, ultimately providing effective precision treatment programs.