# Pancreatic fat and volume and childhood metabolic health

> **NIH NIH K99** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2024 · $90,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The rise of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in U.S. youth is an alarming public health issue. Although obesity is a strong
risk factor for pediatric T2D, at the same time, only a subset of youth with obesity develops T2D, suggesting
disease pathogenesis is driven by factors beyond total adiposity. It is well-established that altered body fat
trafficking into abdominal and hepatic fats is strongly correlated with metabolic dysfunction in youth, independent
of obesity. Recently, pancreatic traits assessed by imaging, particularly pancreatic fat and volume, have also
emerged as potential risk factors for dysglycemia in youth. However, research examining the metabolic effects
of these traits in youth has been limited to smaller cross-sectional studies, primarily conducted in clinical
populations (i.e., children with existing obesity, fatty liver, or dysglycemia). Also, few, if any, human studies have
explored the influence of the early nutritional environment on these pancreatic traits. In the proposed K99/R00
award, we will address these knowledge gaps by leveraging data from the Healthy Start Study, a longitudinal,
pre-birth, cohort study in Colorado that has comprehensively characterized ~1,400 mother-child pairs since
pregnancy. The applicant, Dr. Catherine Cohen, PhD, RDN, will add quantitative magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) sequences to scans performed at the next wave of visits when offspring are in adolescence (10-15 years)
to measure pancreatic fat and volume. This data will then be used to pursue the following specific aims: Aim 1.
Assess pancreatic fat and volume in a general risk cohort of adolescents and examine interindividual variation
in relation to child characteristics and adiposity measures (K99). Aim 2. Test prospective associations of early
nutrition/growth with pancreatic fat and volume in adolescence (K99/R00). Aim 3. Examine associations of
pancreatic fat and volume trajectories across adolescence with trajectories of glucose-insulin markers across
adolescence, and the role of pancreatic traits in mediating associations of early nutrition and growth with glycemic
markers (R00).Taken together, the findings of this proposal will improve knowledge of the role of pancreatic traits
as risk markers for early onset dysglycemia during puberty and generate insights that will enhance our ability to
design and target T2D prevention strategies more effectively. The proposed training goals for the K99 phase will
complement this research and focus on gaining: (1) experience applying lifecourse epidemiology concepts, (2)
expertise in assessing body composition, especially adiposity measures, and (3) knowledge of pediatric T2D
pathophysiology and dynamic glucose-insulin assessments, and will be achieved through individual mentorship,
practical experiences, and didactic training, and supplemented with opportunities to expand professional
development skills. Collectively, the proposed research and training activities will strat...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10884835
- **Project number:** 1K99DK136503-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Catherine Cioffi Cohen
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $90,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-05-01 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10884835

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10884835, Pancreatic fat and volume and childhood metabolic health (1K99DK136503-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10884835. Licensed CC0.

---

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