# Mentoring Underrepresented Researchers in Diabetes and Pregnancy Investigation

> **NIH NIH K26** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2024 · $132,296

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Hyperglycemia is a common metabolic problem with a profound impact on pregnancy outcomes. Even modest
elevations in blood glucose during gestation are associated with a multitude of pregnancy complications,
including fetal growth abnormalities, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, and neonatal
morbidity. Manifestation of metabolic disease in pregnancy foreshadows future diabetes and cardiovascular
risk in both affected individuals and their children. Over the past two decades, there have been remarkable
advances in understanding of diabetes pathophysiology, application of diabetes technology, and novel
diabetes therapeutics. Yet, many these innovations have not reached the obstetric population, in part because
of the by-default exclusion of pregnant and lactating individuals from clinical research studies. To address this
problem, we need to train a new generation of diabetes researchers that has the expertise to rigorously
conduct studies in pregnancy. This new generation of investigators should reflect the diversity of the people
affected by hyperglycemia, who are disproportionately from minoritized and marginalized groups.
The Principal Investigator (PI) has a longstanding commitment to mentoring future physicians and scientists,
with a special emphasis on trainees that are from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research. The
goal of this proposal is to support the PI’s high-quality mentorship of graduate students and postdoctoral
fellows from underrepresented backgrounds in diabetes and pregnancy investigation. The PI’s interdisciplinary
NIH-funded research program applies advances in physiologic and genetic profiling, as well as diabetes
technologies, to improve the understanding of glycemia in pregnancy and inform new approaches to the care
of pregnant and lactating individuals with diabetes. The PI has had continuous NIDDK funding since joining the
faculty of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Her funded research projects and
other available datasets provide a rich training-ground for mentee projects in the investigation of diabetes,
metabolic disease, and other related disorders in pregnancy.
During the grant period the PI will RECRUIT (Aim 1), TRAIN (Aim 2), SUPPORT (Aim 3), and SPONSOR (Aim 4) at
least 8 trainees at the graduate student or postdoctoral fellow level from underrepresented backgrounds. With
access to exceptional institutional resources and the PI’s scientific program, mentees will succeed in building
independent research careers and deliver biomedical advances in diabetes to pregnant and lactating
individuals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10918259
- **Project number:** 5K26DK138346-02
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Camille Elise Powe
- **Activity code:** K26 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $132,296
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10918259

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10918259, Mentoring Underrepresented Researchers in Diabetes and Pregnancy Investigation (5K26DK138346-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10918259. Licensed CC0.

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