Diabetes risk and pancreas growth during pregnancy using MRI
Official title: Diabetes Prediction During Pregnancy and In Utero Using Pancreas MRI
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11333339 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses MRI to look at how the maternal and fetal pancreas grow during pregnancy and whether pancreas size relates to the risk of developing diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $636,458 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD115565-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333339 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals with or at risk for type 2 diabetes, including those with gestational diabetes or pregestational diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without any risk of diabetes or pancreatic involvement may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
During pregnancy, the pancreas changes as beta cells proliferate. The study will follow pregnant participants with varying diabetes risk, using MRI to measure pancreas size, fat content, and inflammation in both mother and fetus. Researchers will link imaging findings with metabolic profiles and diabetes outcomes after pregnancy. The goal is to understand if pancreas size can signal future diabetes risk and how pregnancy affects pancreatic health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify women at higher risk for diabetes early, enabling preventive care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows pancreas characteristics relate to diabetes risk, but longitudinal fetal and maternal MRI during pregnancy is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Virostko, John Michael — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Virostko, John Michael
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.