# Translational Diagnostics

> **NIH NIH P30** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $206,814

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: Translational Diagnostics Core
 The long-term goal of the Washington University Diabetes Research Center (DRC) Translational
Diagnostics Core is to improve human health by supporting clinical laboratory testing services for
research in diabetes mellitus and related metabolic disorders. Over 50 analytes are routinely available as
part of the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendment (CLIA) test menu. Several other analytes are
available on multiple testing platforms for research use. Most quantitation is performed on serum or plasma
samples from human studies. Some analyses are performed on samples from animal models. During this past
funding period, the Core provided services to 46 different DRC member laboratories (including 9 P&F
recipients), and 16 external academic users, and these services supported the publication of 100 papers. More
than 137,000 test results were provided, including >37,000 human insulin values, >33,000 human C-peptide
values, and >3,000 mouse insulin values. The Core seeks to provide expert consultation to investigators so
that the most appropriate tests can be chosen while taking cost, sample volume, and number of samples into
consideration. In addition to quantification of classic metabolic analytes relevant to diabetes, such as insulin
and glucagon, the Core has added glycated albumin, which promises to be a useful marker of intermediate
term glucose control, and will add type 1 diabetes autoantibodies during the next funding cycle. The Core also
offers assays for diabetes and metabolism relevant molecules, such as adiponectin, leptin, IL-6 and TNF. For
analytes not offered in-house, the Core maintains contracts with outside laboratories, so that these analyses
can be performed at substantially lower cost to DRC members. Development of new research tests on
specialized equipment is another important activity of the Translational Diagnostics Core, which makes the
latest advances in diabetes and metabolism research available to DRC members. A newly acquired single
molecule counting instrument will allow better accuracy for low-abundant signaling molecules with a wider
dynamic range than with traditional methods. The Translational Diagnostics Core provides efficient, high
quality diagnostic services promoting the translation of basic scientific discoveries for the prevention, treatment
and cure of diabetes and its complications.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10820558
- **Project number:** 5P30DK020579-47
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer Lynn Powers Carson
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $206,814
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1996-12-01 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10820558

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10820558, Translational Diagnostics (5P30DK020579-47). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10820558. Licensed CC0.

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