Understanding youth-onset type 2 diabetes: predicting, preventing, and personalizing care
Official title: Understanding, Predicting and Preventing Type 2 Diabetes in Youth, Boston Clinical Center (UPP Study)
Funded at Joslin Diabetes Center · NIH-11293444 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at a major diabetes center is looking at why some youths develop type 2 diabetes during puberty and how to prevent it or keep it from getting worse, so future kids at risk can stay healthier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Joslin Diabetes Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 10, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $663,241 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK134996-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11293444 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents experiencing or at risk for youth-onset type 2 diabetes, especially around puberty, across diverse geographic settings.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without youth-onset diabetes or risk factors may contribute data but are unlikely to gain direct benefit during the study.
What this research studies
This project follows young people during puberty to understand how insulin resistance, β-cell function, and other factors combine to drive youth-onset type 2 diabetes. It collects information on biology, behavior, psychology, and social context to map the timeline from normal glucose to diabetes. The study aims to identify differences by gender, race/ethnicity, and living environment, and to see how modifiable risk factors might alter disease progression. Results will help design targeted prevention and treatment strategies for YO-T2D.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to personalized prevention and early treatment approaches for youths at risk of or living with YO-T2D.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies on youth diabetes risk have advanced understanding of disease progression, though this study seeks deeper mechanistic and contextual insights during puberty.
Where this research is happening
-
Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Isganaitis, Elvira Marie — Joslin Diabetes Center
- Study coordinator: Isganaitis, Elvira Marie
Related research
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Understanding why youth develop type 2 diabetes and how to prevent it
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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.