Training Grant in Diabetes and Endocrinology to Enhance Metabolic Healthspan

ABSTRACT In the setting of the burgeoning obesity epidemic, metabolic health involving diabetes, diabetes-related risk factors and diabetes-related complications increasingly burden the US health care system. Yet, even as the disease burden increases, the number of investigators committed to finding ways to prevent and treat metabolic diseases has lagged persistently behind. The University of Minnesota (UMN) has held a T32 training grant since 1977 with demonstrated success. Within the last 10 years (n=13 trainees), 10 (77%) are in research related fields, 5 (38.4%) are Assistant Professors, and 7 (54%) are associated with NIH grants (either PI or Co-I). To drive the success of the T32 training program moving forward, we have assembled an outstanding, complementary leadership team (MPI between Drs Chow and Bernlohr) and sharpened the current proposal’s focus to leverage the recent flourishing success of UMN investigators in metabolic healthspan, the preservation of metabolic health. The proposed T32 program will provide advanced training in state-of-the-art research focused on the mechanisms affecting metabolic healthspan and enhancing metabolic health. To achieve this goal, we will employ a multifaceted approach inspired by our past history to train four postdoctoral students (MD, PhD or MD/PhD) per year for up to 2 years per trainee. The training approach includes the following: #1 Provide trainees with the skill sets necessary to perform multidisciplinary research regarding metabolic healthspan, #2 Provide high quality mentorship, now involving Senior/Associate Mentors (mentor dyads) to support trainee and Associate Mentor development, #3 Provide an outstanding environment fusing research and clinical training for physician and PhD trainees, #4 Provide skill development, including the experience of writing a F32 or alternative career development grant during the second year, for trainees to thrive in academic medicine and #5 Establish programs that enhance recruitment and retention of diverse trainees. The overarching objective of the proposed UMN T32 program is to train physicians and scientists for research careers focused on enhancing metabolic healthspan while providing a thoughtfully-designed training environment focused on meeting the unique development needs of postdoctoral fellows as they define their career and research goals.