Pharmacological inhibition of TBK1/IKKε promoted energy expenditure in adipose tissue with attenuated hepatic steatosis and improved insulin sensitivity in mouse models of obesity, and enhanced glucose control in a subset of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)33,36. The gene discussed is IKBKE; the disease is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.