Scale-up evaluation trial of the diabetes prevention program to improve obesity and cardiometabolic health after traumatic brain injury - people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at greater risk…

Baylor Research Institute received a $250,000 Project Grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR, CFDA 93.433) awarded September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2028, to conduct a scale-up evaluation trial of the Group Lifestyle Balance Diabetes Prevention Program adapted for people with traumatic brain injury (GLB-TBI). The project addresses a significant health disparity, as individuals with TBI face elevated risk for obesity-related cardiometabolic diseases including diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Working with an advisory board comprising people with TBI, care partners, coach interventionists, expert consultants, and researchers, the grantee will examine the feasibility, effectiveness, fidelity, and real-world evaluation of the GLB-TBI intervention at a Center for Disease Control-recognized delivery site in Texas.

The grant will produce four primary deliverables designed to facilitate intervention adoption and implementation: (1) a scaled-up version of the GLB-TBI intervention; (2) a toolkit and organizational blueprint enabling Centers for Disease Control sites to adopt the intervention; (3) a toolkit for people with TBI to engage in the program; and (4) a website providing resource access and technical assistance for both CDC sites and individuals with TBI. Expected outcomes include an engaged advisory board, improved weight and cardiometabolic health outcomes for TBI populations in real-world settings, and identification of key determinants supporting adoption at CDC-recognized delivery sites.

Scale-up evaluation trial of the diabetes prevention program to improve obesity and cardiometabolic health after traumatic brain injury - people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at greater risk for obesity-related cardiometabolic disease (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, heart disease) than people without TBI. To address this health disparity, our 10-year systematic line of research has demonstrated the efficacy of our center for disease control (CDC)-recognized, evidence-based diabetes prevention program group lifestyle balance (DPP-GLB) intervention modified for people with TBI (GLB-TBI). Our project goal is to complete a scale-up evaluation trial of the GLB-TBI to maximize its impact for producing improved weight and cardiometabolic health outcomes and ensure successful adoption into real-world settings. Our rationale is that nearly 80% of medical research dollars make no public health impact due to the lack of research activities that support successful intervention adoption. The objectives of our project are to partner with our advisory board (AB) including people with TBI lived experience, care partners, coach interventionists, expert consultants, and researchers to examine the feasibility, effectiveness, fidelity, and evaluation of the GLB-TBI in a real-world setting (i.e., at a CDC-recognized delivery site). Anticipated outcomes include (1) an engaged AB to support project goals, (2) improved weight and cardiometabolic health for people with TBI in a real-word setting, and (3) identification of determinants to adoption at CDC sites. Expected products include a (1) a scaled-up version of the GLB-TBI, (2) toolkit and organizational blueprint for CDC sites to support adoption of the intervention, (3) toolkit for people with TBI to engage in the intervention, and (4) website for CDC sites and people with TBI to access resource toolkits and seek technical assistance.