# CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN DIABETES RESEARCH FOR PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGISTS

> **NIH NIH K12** · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · 2021 · $565,981

## Abstract

This application for a 1-year extension aims to ensure the continued career development of a diverse and
exceptionally well trained group of pediatric endocrinologists entering the field of pediatric diabetes research
through a joint institutional career development program at Boston Children’s Hospital and the Joslin Diabetes
Center. Through mentored training of pediatric endocrine scholars who have completed fellowships in pediatric
endocrinology, this joint program will support and nurture career development of junior faculty in biomedical
and behavioral diabetes investigations relevant to pediatric diabetes. Based upon the longstanding history of
collaboration between Children’s and Joslin, our extensive diabetes research programs, and our record of
successful career development of pediatric endocrinologists becoming independent diabetes researchers with
support over the last ~15 years from our K12 career development program for pediatric diabetologists, we will
continue to mentor pediatric endocrinologists likely to become the future leaders of pediatric diabetes programs
in the USA. We will provide career development and support for an additional 1 year for 3 K12 scholars as they
prepare to pursue independent investigation in the future. Children’s and Joslin have an extensive group of
faculty mentors, multi-disciplinary training programs, commitment to mentoring predoctoral students, post-
doctoral fellows, and junior faculty in research relevant to diabetes, and a talented pool of diverse, committed
candidates for re-appointment to the K12 program. The rationale for the application includes: increased
occurrence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in childhood, need to discover the causes of type 1 and type 2
diabetes, challenges of achieving target glycemic control in youth, high risk of short- and long-term diabetes
complications, outstanding diabetes research at both institutions, need for research to increase understanding
of uncommon genetic forms of diabetes, demands of implementing and maintaining intensive insulin therapy
and new monitoring technologies in youth, opportunities with automated insulin delivery, and need for trained
and committed pediatric diabetes investigators to advance research aimed at treating, preventing, and curing
these disorders. Further, while the Covid-19 Pandemic may have slowed efforts, it never halted research
progress for our K12 scholars; nonetheless, an additional year of K12 support will solidify their opportunities for
future independent funding. Given the history of diabetes research at our institutions and the richness of the
Harvard Medical School environment, this joint application offers a unique setting for career development of
pediatric endocrinologists in diabetes research. Co-PI and Program Director Lori Laffel MD MPH and Co-PI
Morris White PhD, supported by an Advisory Committee, are in optimal positions to continue this effort. Career
development is enhanced by Joslin’s NIH-supported Diabete...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10399893
- **Project number:** 3K12DK094721-10S1
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** LORI M LAFFEL
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $565,981
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2011-09-16 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10399893

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10399893, CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN DIABETES RESEARCH FOR PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGISTS (3K12DK094721-10S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10399893. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*