# Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Type 1 Diabetes and Biomedical Engineering

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2021 · $174,832

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Within the U.S., the incidence of diabetes has risen to the extent that the disorder is now often referred to as a
“pandemic”. While most attention to this problem has been directed at type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes (T1D)
represents part of this increase and carries with it higher levels of long-term morbidity and mortality. Disease
management of those with T1D has, over the past decade, seen dramatic improvement; gains largely due to
“technologies” (e.g., continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, delivery devices). As such, there is both a
continuing, if not urgent need for innovative therapeutics and technologies to deal with not only T1D care but
in addition, methods that deliver the long held hope for a means to prevent/reverse the disease. This, in turn,
forms the need to train a generation of future scientists that can contribute to the engineering of such devices
while at the same time, have in-depth knowledge to link their research to address the prevention, reversal and
treatment of the disease. With this, the overall objective of our proposed training program is to provide an
experience directed at this need. Specifically, The University of Florida Interdisciplinary Training for Type 1
Diabetes and Biomedical Engineering Program will provide an interdisciplinary, integrated effort designed to
develop predoctoral students (four positions requested) into graduates having skill sets and knowledge vital for
attempts that bridge these two important disciplines. Pre-doctoral candidates may select co-mentors (one T1D
and one Biomedical Engineering) from a diverse basic science, translational, and clinical faculty. Research
interests of the training faculty include: 1) Immunology/Genetics (autoimmunity, genotype/phenotype, innate
immunity); 2) Stem Cell Biology/Therapeutics (cell therapy, iPSC generation, cell scaffolds); and 3)
Clinical/Translational Research (clinical trials, therapeutic development, improved disease management).
Importantly, the Faculty has a strong track record of active collaboration. The infrastructure for clinical
research will be enhanced by the university’s CTSI as well as Institutes and Centers directed by faculty
members of this training program. Training, including curricula, is focused on disease-oriented research
relevant to T1D and includes disease-related research in both animal models and humans. The training
program is largely preceptorial, with more than 75% of the trainee’s time devoted to independent research
activities and the rest spent in formal courses and conferences. The curriculum is tailored to trainees’
individual needs. A concerted effort has also been extended to rigorous program evaluation, monitoring of
trainee’s needs including career development, and recruitment of minorities. Trainees emanating from
mentors laboratories over the past decades have been highly successful in terms of research publications and
their subsequent career development. In sum, we believe c...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10244999
- **Project number:** 5T32DK108736-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** MARK A. ATKINSON
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $174,832
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10244999

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10244999, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Type 1 Diabetes and Biomedical Engineering (5T32DK108736-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10244999. Licensed CC0.

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