Studies of Insulin and Glucagon Action in the Liver (NCT07300982) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingPhase 1/2
Studies of Insulin and Glucagon Action in the Liver
United States40 participantsStarted 2026-10
Plain-language summary
This study examines how glucagon works to regulate glucose metabolism, based on new findings that suggest glucagon signaling in the liver has more than one role, and that these multiple roles can be opposing in nature. Understanding this biology provides an opportunity to develop new generations of glucagon-based drugs that target specific pathways, making them more effective at controlling blood glucose.
Participants will complete paired, 5-hour hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp visits in which they receive either glucagon or saline infusions while blood glucose is maintained and frequent blood samples are collected. The primary focus is whether coordinated glucagon and insulin signaling enhances hepatic insulin sensitivity.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 45 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Healthy adults age 18-45 years
* Body Mass Index (BMI) \< 27.0 kg/m²
* Fasting plasma glucose ≤ 95 mg/dL or HbA1c ≤ 5.8% as measured at screening visit
Exclusion Criteria:
* Active medical disease: e.g. active infectious, inflammatory, neurodegenerative or mental health disorders
* No personal history of diabetes or pancreatitis
* No personal history of cardiac, gastrointestinal, renal or liver disease
* No history of diabetes among any first-degree family members
* Renal insufficiency (eGFR \< 60 mL/kg/min)
* Anemia (hematocrit \< 34%) as measured at screening visit
* Pregnant females
* Consumption of daily medications that alter glucose metabolism of GI function (glucocorticoids, psychotropics, narcotics, metoclopramide)
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Glucose appearance (Ra)
Timeframe: In these experiments outcomes will be based on measurements made in the final 90 minutes of the hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp.
2
Glucose disappearance (Rd)
Timeframe: In the experiments described here glucose turnover (Ra and Rd) will be determined in the final 90 minutes of the hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp.
3
Hepatic insulin sensitivity
Timeframe: Basal period (time -30-0 min), after the insulin infusion alone (60-90 min), and during the glucagon/saline infusions (120-180 min)