Project Grant R03HL183276

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute awarded Florida State University $218,937 on August 15, 2026, under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) to conduct a two-year research project examining high-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) as an intervention to reduce systolic blood pressure and improve vascular function among adults with type 1 diabetes. The project runs through July 31, 2028, with work performed in Tallahassee, Florida.

Type 1 diabetes carries a nine- to forty-three-year shortened life expectancy and a tenfold higher cardiovascular disease risk compared to the general population. Systolic blood pressure is a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease in this population, and even young adults with type 1 diabetes show vascular dysfunction and elevated risk for adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. The research team will investigate IMST as a time-efficient, home-based alternative to traditional aerobic exercise, which presents adherence barriers for people with type 1 diabetes due to low time availability and challenges maintaining euglycemia during physical activity. Published data and preliminary findings demonstrate that IMST reduces systolic blood pressure and improves vascular function in clinical populations and achieves high adherence rates exceeding eighty-five percent because the intervention requires just five minutes daily using a commercially available device. This award is classified as a Project Grant, with total obligated funding of $218,937.