InvesT1D: Helping teens take charge of Type 1 diabetes
Official title: InvesT1D: Promoting Adolescent Investment in Diabetes Care
Funded at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. · NIH-11286791 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers small financial rewards to help teenagers with type 1 diabetes stick to their care and improve blood sugar control.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Canton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 26, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $700,433 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK136090-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11286791 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Teens and young adults with type 1 diabetes—roughly ages 12–20—and their caregivers, especially those who use or can use a continuous glucose monitor, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without type 1 diabetes, very young children, or patients who cannot or will not use a continuous glucose monitor may not be eligible or likely to benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
You would be invited to join a larger randomized trial comparing different ways of giving incentives to teens with type 1 diabetes. The team will use continuous glucose monitor data and HbA1c tests to track blood sugar control, collect surveys about diabetes-related stress and family conflict, and monitor safety and health care use. They will also analyze costs and whether clinics can realistically adopt the incentive approach. The study uses both quantitative outcomes and interviews to understand real-world feasibility and long-term effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help teens improve blood sugar control, lower future complication risk, and reduce family stress around diabetes care.
How similar studies have gone: A prior pilot randomized trial of InvesT1D showed improved adherence and time-in-range, and other research supports that incentives can help adolescent adherence, which this larger trial will build on.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
Canton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wright, Davene Renee — Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
- Study coordinator: Wright, Davene Renee
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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.