Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Virginia received a $782,459 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 March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2031. This five-year research initiative investigates the mechanisms by which obesity exacerbates cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in individuals with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) by examining the relationship between microvascular insulin resistance, endothelial oxidative stress, and cardiorespiratory fitness. The research will establish whether skeletal and cardiac muscle microvascular insulin resistance predicts cardiorespiratory fitness reduction and whether obesity compounds these abnormalities in T1D populations.

The project will deliver scientific evidence through three primary research aims: characterizing the predictive value of microvascular insulin resistance on cardiorespiratory fitness in T1D; evaluating the impact of obesity on microvascular insulin resistance and fitness decline; and testing whether 14 weeks of high-intensity intermittent exercise training can attenuate microvascular insulin resistance and improve cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with T1D, obesity, or both conditions. The deliverables will include comprehensive analysis of interrelationships among microvascular insulin responses, endothelial cell oxidative stress, cardiac function, muscle function, and vascular function before and after exercise intervention, ultimately providing evidence to inform therapeutic interventions and CVD prevention strategies for this high-risk population.