# Translating Obesity, Metabolic Dysfunction and Comorbid Disease States

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · $105,548

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Obesity rates continue to rise in adolescents, adults, and aging populations leading to greater rates of
chronic disease and comorbid disease conditions across the lifespan. Obesity and associated chronic disease
conditions plague our healthcare system, negatively influence quality of life, and exact a terrible financial toll on
society. Obesity induces pathologies that dramatically increase risk of metabolic disease states, cardiovascular
dysfunction, chronic kidney disease, significant orthopedic limitations, and various forms of cancer. Obesity also
increases risk for chronic debilitating pain conditions and mental health disorders (stress, depression, anxiety).
Evidence over the last 3 decades shows that our current healthcare system is not effective in preventing or
treating obesity and associated complications. Traditional methodologies have largely been ineffective because
they have focused on single mode interventions (exercise, diet, pharmacology) or have not been effectively
translated from the bench to the clinic or the clinic to population level. New research-driven solutions and
therapies that bridge basic biomedical science, clinical, and population health research that are synergistically
aligned and address the multi-modal constructs underlying obesity and co-morbid disease conditions are
needed. Because obesity is central to so many diseases and comorbid conditions, and is increasingly prevalent,
we argue that obesity should be a centerpiece in the training for the next generation of scientists. Our T32
proposal entitled “Translating Obesity, Metabolic Dysfunction and Comorbid Disease States” will provide
foundational research training to predoctoral graduate students. The T32 training program will have 4 Pre-
Doctoral trainees provided support for ~2 years and will strive to prepare trainees to work with divergent
disciplines and foster synergistic and translational research teams. Trainees will be co-mentored by both basic
science and clinical faculty and will interact with an internal advisory committee with basic, clinical, and
translational scientific expertise. Trainees will take part in a unique training program involving both a diverse set
of activities (seminars, meetings, didactic course work) and customized plans that meet the needs and goals of
each trainee. The University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) has the necessary resources and scientific
environment for this program including an established culture of translational researchers, a well-established
community of federally funded investigators studying obesity and obesity associated comorbid disease
conditions across the lifespan, synergy with the leading healthcare provider in the area (University of Kansas
Health System), and access to a diverse population of research participants significantly impacted by obesity
(urban, rural, various socioeconomic and ethnic groups). We expect that our T32 will provide unique training for
predoctoral candida...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10411630
- **Project number:** 1T32DK128770-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** John P Thyfault
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $105,548
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-06-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10411630

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10411630, Translating Obesity, Metabolic Dysfunction and Comorbid Disease States (1T32DK128770-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10411630. Licensed CC0.

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