# Endocannabinoids: Obesity and Insulin Resistance

> **NIH NIH K01** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $119,664

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 The Major Goals of this award are to: 1) allow me to build upon my current knowledge base in
metabolism research by gaining expertise in the fields of neurophysiology and adipose tissue physiology, 2)
further develop my overall scientific skills to become a successful independent diabetes researcher, and 3)
achieve 1 and 2 through investigating role the endocannabinoid system in the development of diabetes and
obesity to provide novel insight for future therapies. Because the complications of metabolic diseases, such as
diabetes and obesity, are not isolated to one tissue in the body, it is imperative to investigate metabolic
disorders utilizing an integrative physiology approach. Therefore, to build upon my expertise in skeletal muscle
metabolism, I will receive training from my Mentor Dr. Joel Elmquist (expert in neuroanatomy and
neurophysiology) and Co-mentor Dr. Philipp Scherer (expert in adipose tissue physiology). Drs. Elmquist and
Scherer are leaders in diabetes and obesity research, and routinely utilize advanced cellular and molecular
biology techniques to utilize a multidisciplinary approach to address innovative questions regarding obesity and
diabetes. They have provided me with sophisticated mouse models that allow for the specific deletion or
reactivation of cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) from specific neuronal populations within the central nervous
system (CNS) and from peripheral tissues. The endocannabinoid system, consisting of the CB1R and lipid
derived endogenous cannabinoid molecules, has been shown to contribute to the development of diabetes and
obesity. Although CB1R antagonist are effective at improving insulin sensitivity and protecting against diet
induced obesity, these drugs have severe side effects associated with the widespread distribution of CB1Rs in
the body. Therefore, the overarching aim of experiments within this application is to investigate distinct sites
(neuronal and peripheral) of CB1R expression that are critical for metabolic regulation. We anticipate the
results from our investigation will provide novel insight to the development of effective therapies to combat
metabolic disease while circumventing major side effects. My Mentors have all necessary resources to
complete the proposed experiments, and the rigorous training plan will provide me with the necessary skills to
become an independent researcher. The training afforded by this fellowship will serve as the foundation for my
career path to becoming a tenured research faculty with a laboratory that makes meaningful contributions to
obesity and diabetes researcher. By combining all of my training, I will possess a unique skillset to utilize an
integrative physiology (skeletal muscle <-> CNS <-> adipose tissue) allowing me to fill in a niche in diabetes
research. The result obtained from this proposal will not result in competing interests with my mentors, the
findings obtained are my own independent line of research to launch...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9837434
- **Project number:** 5K01DK111644-03
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Carlos Michel Castorena
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $119,664
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2020-02-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9837434

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9837434, Endocannabinoids: Obesity and Insulin Resistance (5K01DK111644-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9837434. Licensed CC0.

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