Federal Grant Award Summary

Yale University received a $193,874 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 April 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030. The award funds a patient-centered research initiative to improve treatment outcomes for urinary incontinence (UI) among women with comorbid obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The project delivers three primary research products: (1) evidence-based assessment of patient preferences for obtaining UI care in primary care settings through mixed-methods research involving surveys (n=100) and guided interviews (n=12-20); (2) design of a patient-centered collaborative care model (COCM) for UI utilizing participatory design methodology and the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (IPARIHS) framework with stakeholder involvement; and (3) feasibility evaluation of the collaborative care model as delivered through the primary care setting.

This research addresses a significant clinical and implementation gap, as only 15% of individuals with UI seek treatment despite evidence-based options being available. The project recognizes the bidirectional relationships between UI, obesity, and T2DM, where UI limits exercise critical for managing metabolic conditions while both conditions exacerbate UI severity. By combining treatment for these three diagnoses within a collaborative care model, the initiative aims to reduce healthcare burden, improve care access, and enhance treatment outcomes for affected populations while advancing the evidence base for implementing UI care in primary care settings.