# Arkansas Integrative Metabolic Research Center

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FAYETTEVILLE · 2024 · $679,042

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
The Arkansas Integrative Metabolic Research Center (AIMRC) is a Phase I COBRE at the University of Arkansas
at Fayetteville (04/01/2021-02/28/2026; PI: Dr. Kyle P. Quinn). The scientific theme of the AIMRC is to understand
the role of cell and tissue metabolism in disease through biomedical research involving advanced imaging,
bioenergetics, and data science. The long-term objective of the AIMRC is to establish a sustainable
interdisciplinary research center that can support biomedical research at the U of A, grow the emerging strength
in metabolic research on campus, and collaborate with other COBRE centers, such as the MaineHealth Institute
for Research. The overall goal of this administrative supplement is to characterize the impact of a chimeric
superFGF1-FGF21 protein on dysregulated metabolism diseases as it is now well accepted that there are
numerous factors contributing to a patient being considered at high risk for cancer development, with
dysregulated metabolism being the most prominent. Modulating an individual's metabolic condition presents a
potential treatment option to mitigate the risk of cancer development. The proposed study introduces a chimeric
Fibroblast Growth Factor hyperstable non-heparin binding FGF 1 (superFGF1) and the C-terminal terminal tail
of FGF21, named superFGF1-FGF21 C-terminal tail, harnessing the metabolic modulation properties of both
FGF21 and the FGF receptor binding capabilities of FGF1 and FGF21. The metabolic cytokine, FGF21, a non-
heparin binding cytokine, modulates lipid and glucose oxidation activates mTOR signaling, and requires
alpha/beta Klotho co-receptors for FGF receptor binding. FGF1, on the other hand, is known for its ability to
modulate metabolism and interact with all known isoforms of FGFR, which complements FGF21. The
hypothesis is that combining the metabolic stimulatory activity of FGF21 with the FGFR binding capacity
of FGF1 in a hyper-stable superFGF1-FGF21 chimera can yield a potent regulator of metabolic condition.
The development of this recombinant chimera, confirmed through successful overexpression and purification
with superior stability in preliminary data, is positioned to diffuse through the heparin-rich extracellular matrix,
reaching distant organs in a hormone-like manner. The proposed study outlines two main objectives: 1) Refine
the superFGF1-FGF21 chimeric protein and characterize its therapeutic capabilities to regulate adipogenic
differentiation and lypolysis; 2) Assess the therapeutic potential of the FGF1-FGF21 chimera in a model of
Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA), a ribosomopathy characterized by dysregulated protein metabolism and
predisposition to cancer growth. A multidisciplinary team with expertise in structural biology, FGF biology,
adipose metabolism, protein synthesis, and two-photon microscopy has been assembled. We expect that the
results of this pilot study will lay the foundation for future multi-PI R01 submissions and active ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11047207
- **Project number:** 3P20GM139768-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT FAYETTEVILLE
- **Principal Investigator:** Kyle Patrick Quinn
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $679,042
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11047207

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11047207, Arkansas Integrative Metabolic Research Center (3P20GM139768-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11047207. Licensed CC0.

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