# Diabetes and Related Metabolic Diseases

> **NIH NIH T32** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $1,010,582

## Abstract

Project Summary
The long term objective of this competitive renewal application is to train exceptional diabetes scientists
capable of leveraging the latest research tools to decrease suffering from diabetes. The program trains MD,
PhD, and MD PhD scientists for 2 to 3 years through mentored research and structured activities that are
seamlessly integrated with basic science departments, clinical departments, and centers in the context of
considerable institutional support. Continually evolving in response to self-assessment and external reviews,
the training program features strengths that include: A) Research facilities and a research environment
encompassing the Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (the Washington University CTSA), the
NIDDK-supported Diabetes Research Center (DRC) and Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC), as well
as substantial other resources. B) A required core curriculum in diabetes science in addition to required
supplemental courses that include training in Rigor and Reproducibility all provided at no cost to trainees. C)
Administrative support to facilitate interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research training. D) Two Program
Directors with complementary skill sets, strong records of training scholars, and significant commitment of
effort through institutional support. E) 30 preceptors focused on diabetes and related metabolic diseases. Over
the past 10 years, this group has trained >270 postdoctorates of whom 86% have continued in research. Each
of the mentors participates in one or more components of this training program, and each has external
research support (average current year support >$990,000/preceptor). F) Institution of a new mentoring
curriculum that has improved mentoring as determined by anonymous surveys. G) Highly competitive pools of
PhD and clinical degree trainees. All available postdoctoral positions have been filled over the past 15 years
and the program completion rate is 96%. H) Anonymous feedback from current and former trainees indicating
increased satisfaction with the training program over the most recent funding period. I) Successful training
record in terms of publications (a substantial increase in publications per trainee compared to the previous
funding period), competing for grant support, and remaining in research or research-related careers. J) To
enhance diversity, institution of a new underrepresented minority (URM) Metabolic Outreach Program allowing
URM scientists from the University of Miami to undergo short-term research training at Washington University.
One URM MD fellow has completed such training. K) An integrated short-term research program for medical
students coordinated through the Washington University DRC. Overall, this training program prepares a
diverse group of scientists across the translational spectrum to exert a sustained influence on research in
diabetes and related metabolic diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10867363
- **Project number:** 5T32DK007120-50
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MARCO COLONNA
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,010,582
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1975-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10867363

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10867363, Diabetes and Related Metabolic Diseases (5T32DK007120-50). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10867363. Licensed CC0.

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