# Childhood Diabetes and Adiposity Research Training Program (C-DART)

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2020 · $164,194

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The goal of the Childhood Diabetes and Adiposity Research Training program (C-DART) is to prepare post-
doctoral physician scientists for productive careers in clinical, translational, or basic research in prevention or
treatment of type 1 and 2 diabetes and other metabolic consequences of obesity and excess visceral and ectopic
(e.g. hepatic) fat deposition in children. The training program has evolved in three important and positive ways
during the current funding period. First, the updated name (from CDCMRT: Childhood Diabetes Clinical and
Molecular Research Training Program) highlights the expanded focus on research in adipose organ development
and site-specific adipose deposition as a key risk factor for adverse metabolic effects of calorie excess during
childhood. Second, building on the success of the previous 10 years, the program has both refined its trainee
focus to be the research training of MD physician-scientists while expanding applicant scope to include trainees
from multiple specialties. Third, C-DART is applying learning theory Team Science Learning Points to formally,
critically evaluate and modify each training program component. Insulin resistance, strongly associated with
ectopic fat deposition and overt diabetes, is a major health problem in children. C-DART trainees can begin a
research career ranging from molecular/cellular study of pancreatic islet biology and insulin resistance to whole
body pathophysiology of childhood adiposity to prevention/treatment of childhood obesity in ethnically diverse
youth. Training objectives include 1) establishing quality and productive research projects, 2) developing a
successful record of peer-reviewed publications, 3) submitting proposals for extramural funding during T32
tenure such as NIH K series (or similar) to continue training after C-DART, and 4) transitioning to successful
research-focused academic careers for at least 80% of graduates. To achieve these objectives, a research
Capstone Certificate curriculum developed in collaboration with the NIH-funded University of Wisconsin Institute
for Clinical and Translational Research (UW-ICTR) provides training in research techniques, statistics and study
design, responsible conduct of research, and scientific writing and presentation skills. C-DART research training
opportunities include clinical, translational, and basic science activities that expose trainees to a multi-disciplinary
study of diabetes and diseases associated with childhood adiposity. The rising burden of diabetes and other
obesity-related metabolic disorders, the strong 10-year record of accomplishment of our T32-supported trainees,
and recognition of a scarcity of basic and clinical science researchers with childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes
training prompt us to seek continued funding for the C-DART program. During the proposed funding period, C-
DART will continue utilizing existing resources and new strategies to recruit underrepresen...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9934552
- **Project number:** 2T32DK077586-11A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** HUICHUAN J LAI
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $164,194
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2008-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9934552

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9934552, Childhood Diabetes and Adiposity Research Training Program (C-DART) (2T32DK077586-11A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9934552. Licensed CC0.

---

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