UCSF Diabetic Foot Clinic
Official title: UCSF Diabetic Foot Clinical Research Unit
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11257714 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This UCSF program works with people who have diabetes and foot ulcers to collect samples and health information to find markers that help predict healing and prevent amputations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2018 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $780,048 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK119100-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11257714 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with diabetes who currently have, are developing, or are at high risk for a diabetic foot ulcer are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without diabetes, those with non-diabetic foot wounds, or those needing immediate emergency surgical care are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
At UCSF's Diabetic Foot Clinical Research Unit you would be seen for foot wounds and asked to allow sample collection (like blood and tissue), clinical exams, and surveys about your health and social circumstances. The unit is part of a national Diabetic Foot Consortium that runs multi-center biomarker validation trials, maintains a biorepository, and uses a master protocol to enroll people with new or early foot ulcers. Researchers will study biological markers, compare standard-of-care practices, and include social determinants of health to understand healing, recurrence, and risk of amputation. Participation may also involve ancillary studies and follow-up visits to track wound healing and outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify ulcers at highest risk and guide care that reduces slow healing, recurrence, and lower-leg amputations.
How similar studies have gone: Other biomarker studies have shown early promise but are not yet definitive, and the Diabetic Foot Consortium has already run two biomarker validation trials and established a biorepository.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conte, Michael S — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Conte, Michael S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving Diabetic Foot Ulcer Offloading with User-Friendly Cast Walker Design
A small pilot study to see how different removable cast walker designs affect daily use and healing of diabetic foot ulcers.
-
Home-based exercise to help Veterans recover after healed diabetic foot ulcers
A home-based exercise program for Veterans who recently healed from a diabetic foot ulcer to improve walking and daily function.
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How Medicaid Coverage Changes Diabetic Foot Care in Safety-Net Patients
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.
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Multi-targeted approach to help heal diabetic foot ulcers using electric fields and nitric oxide
A study to test a combo treatment using electric field stimulation and nitric oxide to boost healing in diabetic foot ulcers.
-
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.
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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.