Understanding why youth develop type 2 diabetes and how to prevent it
Official title: Understanding and Targeting the Pathophysiology of Youth-onset Type 2 Diabetes-Texas Children's Center.
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11518277 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Baylor College of Medicine is exploring why some youths with obesity develop type 2 diabetes during puberty and how to stop it from getting worse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $98,136 |
| NIH project number | 3U01DK134982-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518277 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Youth who are at risk for or have youth-onset type 2 diabetes and who are able to participate in long-term follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience immediate clinical benefits, but findings could inform future care for others.
What this research studies
This project looks at how puberty, obesity, and other factors interact to affect insulin resistance, insulin production, and blood sugar control in young people. Researchers will examine data from diverse groups to understand differences between boys and girls and across urban and rural settings. The study aims to map when changes in glucose regulation start and how modifiable risks could be targeted to prevent YO-T2D in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights from this work could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for youth at risk of type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has begun to identify risk factors and progression patterns, but this study seeks to clarify mechanisms during puberty and across populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bacha, Fida — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Bacha, Fida
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Subtyping Core for Research on the Causes of Type 2 Diabetes (SCORE-T2D)
A new U01 grant from a university research team aims to understand why Type 2 diabetes differs so much between people and how to tailor prevention and treatment.
-
Michigan Diabetes Project: A Peer-Led Self-Management Program for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
A peer-led self-management program for adults with type 2 diabetes is being tested to see if it improves blood sugar control and daily diabetes care.
-
Alzheimer’s and dementia risk in people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
This grant aims to understand why some older adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes develop memory problems or dementia.
-
Personalized use of newer diabetes medicines for Type 2 diabetes
Aiming to tailor use of newer glucose-lowering drugs for people with type 2 diabetes to improve health and access in real-world settings.
-
Alzheimer’s and related dementia in older adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
This grant aims to understand why cognitive problems occur in people 65 and older who have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, using data from a long-running diabetes study to identify what drives memory and thinking decline.
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Understanding why youth develop type 2 diabetes and how to prevent it
A nationwide study aims to unravel why some teens with obesity develop type 2 diabetes while others don’t, and to identify factors that could help prevent it.
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.