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 Biostatistics Research Center
Funded at George Washington University · NIH-11521236 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,336,792 |
| NIH project number | 3U01DK134971-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11521236 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents and young adults at risk for or diagnosed with youth-onset type 2 diabetes, with attention to diverse genders and geographic backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without YO-T2D or at no identifiable risk of disease progression may have little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a large, long-term approach to study youth-onset type 2 diabetes and the biology of puberty-related insulin changes. Researchers will analyze how insulin resistance, beta-cell function, and other risk factors come together over time to trigger diabetes in young people. The study also looks at differences between genders, various populations, and living environments, including social and behavioral influences. Findings could guide future prevention and treatment strategies tailored to adolescents. Participants may contribute biological samples, health data, and lifestyle information to deepen our understanding of YO-T2D progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier prevention strategies and more effective, age-appropriate treatments for YO-T2D.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have begun to map risk factors, but this project aims to define puberty-related mechanisms and progression in youth more clearly.
Where this research is happening
-
George Washington University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Braffett, Barbara Halina — George Washington University
- Study coordinator: Braffett, Barbara Halina
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 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.
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.