Federal Grant Award Summary

Vanderbilt University Medical Center received a $146,248 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847), effective June 1, 2026, with completion targeted for February 28, 2030. This K01 mentored career development award supports the adaptation and development of a technology-delivered diabetes self-management support intervention specifically designed for adults with Type 2 diabetes and cognitive dysfunction. The project represents a novel application of evidence-based rehabilitation techniques to address the complex relationship between diabetes management and cognitive impairment, where disease severity and cognitive decline create reciprocal challenges for disease management.

The primary deliverable is a scalable, technology-enabled self-management intervention tailored for patients with cognitive dysfunction and their support persons. Through this award, the principal investigator will complete structured mentored training to develop expertise in clinical diabetes management, mixed-methods intervention adaptation, cognitive screening in primary care settings, and clinical trial leadership. The project aims to fill a critical gap in the literature by creating the first rehabilitation-informed intervention of its kind for this vulnerable population, ultimately contributing evidence-based approaches to support disease management in adults experiencing both diabetes and cognitive dysfunction.