# Research Training in Diabetes and Endocrinology

> **NIH NIH T32** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $72,781

## Abstract

This proposal seeks continued support for an Institutional NRSA that provides post-doctoral
research training to 4 M.D. and/or Ph.D. trainees in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism.
Also requested are 6 short-term summer medical student training positions. This multi-
disciplinary program involves 32 faculty preceptors in five clinical and basic science
departments of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. It is an integral component of the
training activities of the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center. Its goal is to provide
trainees with the knowledge and skills required for independent translational or clinical research
careers. It was previously designed to train both M.D. and Ph.D. scientists in equal numbers.
However, due to the stated NIH goal of increasing clinical research, we will focus our
recruitment efforts on M.D.'s, M.D./Ph.D.'s and Ph.D.'s with more clinical research interests.
This training may be in pre-clinical, translational, or clinical research areas, with emphasis on
providing a basic science experience where appropriate. Trainees will be selected from the
nationwide pool of applicants that traditionally seek training at Vanderbilt. M.D. or M.D./Ph.D.
trainees usually have three to four years of relevant residency training before entering the
program. Ph.D. trainees will be considered for their first post-doctoral experience. Trainees are
selected on the basis of their potential as future researchers and educators. The training
program utilizes a preceptor-based approach, in which the trainee develops a research project
under the guidance of a faculty mentor and mentoring committee. Several criteria are used to
match preceptor and trainee, including trainee interests, quality of the project proposed, amount
of direct supervision that the preceptor can provide, and adequacy of the research funding and
facilities available. Typical research topics include hormone action in humans as it relates to
diabetes, obesity, and metabolic regulation. Research training on this T32 is at most two years,
with the goal of extra training years provided by individual fellowship grants. Training is
supplemented by conferences, seminars, coursework, and career guidance efforts. Trainee
progress is evaluated by the oversight committee twice-yearly and the program is evaluated
yearly by the same committee. In the 46 years of NIH support, the program has supported 132
post-doctoral trainees. Of those who have completed training, over 80% have embarked upon
careers in academia, industry or government.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10415264
- **Project number:** 3T32DK007061-48S1
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** KEVIN D NISWENDER
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $72,781
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1975-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10415264

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10415264, Research Training in Diabetes and Endocrinology (3T32DK007061-48S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10415264. Licensed CC0.

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