# Relative Sarcopenia and Cardiometabolic Risk in Young Adults with Obesity

> **NIH NIH K23** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2021 · $198,335

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Obesity is a well-known cardiometabolic disease risk factor and growing public health problem. However, little
is known about the impact of muscle mass and quality on cardiometabolic risk, including type 2 diabetes (DM),
especially in young adults with overweight/obesity. The proposed research has the potential to identify targets
for the prevention and treatment of this public health problem.
The central hypothesis is that relative sarcopenia (i.e. low muscle mass relative to BMI) and impaired muscle
quality (i.e. intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) and mitochondrial dysfunction) contribute to higher DM risk over time
in young adults with overweight/obesity. We also hypothesize that common genetic variants associated with
insulin resistance, as well as obesity-related relative hormone deficiencies, contribute to relative sarcopenia
and impaired muscle quality and lead to higher DM risk.
The candidate is an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Assistant in Medicine at
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) who is highly qualified for and deeply committed to developing a
career as an independent investigator. Her short-term goal is to develop the skills and obtain the preliminary
data necessary to make the transition to her first R-level independent NIH grant-supported research. Her long-
term goal is to become an independent patient-oriented researcher leveraging genetic epidemiology, endocrine
physiology and sophisticated imaging techniques to elucidate mechanisms that may contribute to increased
cardiometabolic risk in young adults with overweight/obesity, and to identify potential targets for both
prevention and treatment. She has an outstanding track record of success, including awards, pilot grants and
publications, and is supported by an expert and highly invested mentorship team composed of successful,
NIH-supported clinical investigators in Neuroendocrinology, Radiology, Epidemiology and Genetic
Epidemiology. She and her mentors have designed a targeted training plan consisting of co-mentorship and a
didactic program.
The institutional environment is outstanding at MGH and Harvard Medical School, with multiple resources
available from the MGH Department of Medicine, the MGH Division of Clinical Research, and the Harvard
Clinical and Translational Science Center, all of which offer a myriad of didactic opportunities, facilities and
support to the candidate. The Neuroendocrine Unit and Department of Medicine have made a strong
commitment to the candidate, including 90% protected time, space, study coordinator support and a faculty
appointment, with the goal of fostering the candidate's career as an independent investigator.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10240291
- **Project number:** 5K23DK115903-05
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Melanie Schorr Haines
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $198,335
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-12 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10240291

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10240291, Relative Sarcopenia and Cardiometabolic Risk in Young Adults with Obesity (5K23DK115903-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10240291. Licensed CC0.

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