Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Leland Stanford Junior University received a $681,391 Project Grant 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 12, 2026, with completion scheduled for February 28, 2030. This research grant funds a clinical investigation into rapid gastric emptying as a modifiable risk factor for postbariatric hypoglycemia (PBH), a serious complication affecting up to 38% of bariatric surgery patients that causes multiple daily hypoglycemic episodes potentially resulting in seizures, loss of consciousness, and death.

The primary deliverable is rigorous clinical research testing three potential therapeutic interventions known to slow gastric emptying in non-surgical populations, with the aim of translating these treatments to the unique physiologic context of post-bariatric surgery patients. The study will evaluate dietary modification (adding fat prior to standardized meals), pharmaceutical intervention (GLP1 agonist semaglutide), and additional treatment modalities, with outcomes measured through standardized mixed meal tolerance testing to assess effects on gastric emptying rates and glucose nadir levels. These clinically available interventions could provide immediate treatment options for PBH patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and vertical sleeve gastrectomy procedures, addressing a critical gap in therapeutic options for this patient population.