Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases awarded a $784,276 Project Grant to the University of Houston System on July 1, 2026, under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847). The grant supports the "Supporting Monitoring and Remote Tracking for Prediabetes (SMART Prediabetes)" initiative, a five-year research project extending through June 30, 2031. The project delivers a comprehensive evaluation of continuous glucose monitor (CGM) use and implementation support for underinsured prediabetic populations served by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Houston, Texas.

The research initiative generates evidence-based products and services focused on addressing barriers to CGM adoption and utilization among safety-net populations. Deliverables include: (1) clinical research data comparing the impact of CGM use on glycemic awareness, behavioral modification, and HbA1c changes relative to standard care, stratified by pharmacologic therapy type; (2) targeted training and implementation guidance for community health workers at FQHCs to effectively support patient CGM use; and (3) multi-level barrier and facilitator analysis grounded in the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model. These evidence-based outputs are designed to inform practice integration of technology-enabled remote monitoring into prediabetes management while reducing health equity gaps among vulnerable populations.