Federal Grant Award Summary

Connecticut Children's Medical Center received a $782,101 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), awarded July 1, 2026, with a completion date of March 31, 2031. This multi-center longitudinal study evaluates the relationship between pain-related stigma and long-term health outcomes in adolescents with painful disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI-P), including functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain disorder, and abdominal migraine. The research will assess 230 adolescents (ages 12-17) at multiple time points over 12 months, collecting data on pain-related stigma, disability, psychological distress, social functioning, and physiological stress markers through saliva samples, blood pressure measurements, and body-mass index assessments.

The deliverables include longitudinal comparative analyses of pain-related stigma reports against concurrent health outcome assessments and evaluation of the relationship between stigma experiences and allostatic load biomarkers as measures of chronic stress exposure. This research addresses a significant public health priority by examining how negative social judgments of pain conditions interfere with protective supports during adolescence and contribute to delayed diagnosis, impaired recovery, and adverse long-term health outcomes. The findings will advance understanding of stigma's impact on pediatric gastrointestinal disorders and inform interventions to improve clinical outcomes.