Diabetic foot clinic network
Official title: Diabetic Foot Consortium Clinical Research Unit
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11257268 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project runs clinics that look for biological signs to help prevent and heal foot ulcers in people with diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2018 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $758,276 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK119099-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11257268 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with diabetes who have current or recent foot ulcers, chronic foot wounds, or are at high risk for diabetic foot complications are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetes, those with only non-diabetic foot issues, or anyone unable to travel to the clinic sites are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
You would visit a clinic that is part of a multi-site network studying diabetic foot ulcers. Staff take wound and skin measurements (including trans-epidermal water loss, TEWL) and collect small samples for biomarker testing at a dedicated lab unit. The site coordinates with nearby satellite clinics to make it easier for patients to join and to speed up enrollment. Results from the network aim to link lab measurements to how well wounds heal.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier detection of foot problems and more targeted treatments to reduce ulcers and amputations.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier Diabetic Foot Consortium work and related multi-site biomarker efforts have produced promising leads like TEWL, but wider validation is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sen, Chandan K — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Sen, Chandan K
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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This project looks at how new Medicaid coverage in California affects foot care, ED visits, and outcomes for adults with diabetes in safety-net populations.
-
Multi-targeted approach to help heal diabetic foot ulcers using electric fields and nitric oxide
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-
Wound fluid test to predict healing in diabetic foot ulcers
This project looks for chemical signals in the fluid from diabetic foot ulcers that could tell adults with diabetes whether a wound will heal with standard care or need a different treatment.
-
MTX-001 for healing diabetic foot ulcers in people with diabetes
A first–in–class biologic therapy called MTX-001 is being tested to help heal diabetic foot ulcers and reduce infection risk in adults with diabetes.
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.