Diabetes research — NIH Funding Overview
Reviewed by Dr. Meng ZhaoLast reviewed June 9, 2026Data refreshed June 9, 2026Editorial standards
Diabetes research at NIH is led by NIDDK and supported by NHLBI, NEI, NIDDK, and NIA for complications. Funded work spans basic islet biology, type 1 immunology, type 2 metabolic dysfunction, gestational diabetes, complications (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy), and prevention/lifestyle science.
Funding snapshot
Award data on this page reflects a snapshot of NIH RePORTER records last refreshed on June 9, 2026. For live numbers, use the interactive trends view.
Why this matters now
Diabetes affects more than 38 million Americans, drives complications across multiple organ systems, and intersects with obesity research and the GLP-1 therapeutic revolution. The Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research provides supplemental T1D-specific appropriations.
How NIH funds this area
NIDDK mechanisms include R01, P01, P30 (DRC centers), U01 (cooperative), and U54 specialized centers. Type 1 awards often have R01 supplements from the Statutory Funding Program. The data below covers all NIH awards mentioning diabetes in title, abstract, or terms.
How to use this funding brief
Use this page to separate type 1, type 2, complication, prevention, and technology portfolios before judging funding momentum. Center grants can reveal shared institutional infrastructure, while narrower disease terms provide a cleaner view of investigator-level competition.
Official source: NIDDK: Diabetes research
Search tactics
- Search "type 1 diabetes" or "T1D" specifically — separate research community from type 2.
- For obesity-diabetes intersection, use "obesity" and "diabetes" both, then compare.
- NIDDK Diabetes Research Centers (P30) anchor institutional programs.
What the data shows
- Funding peaked in FY2025 at $3.7B. The FY2025 total of $3.7B is +16% versus FY2021.
- The number of awards fell about 11% in FY2025 even as total dollars grew — funding is concentrating in fewer, larger awards.
- About 87% of FY2026 dollars so far are renewals and continuations. Mid-year snapshots overweight renewals because non-competing continuations are issued early in the fiscal year, but the share still indicates how much of the portfolio is committed before new applications compete.
- The average FY2025 award was $693K, and R01 was the most common mechanism in the recent window.
Editorial read
Diabetes funding has grown steadily rather than dramatically — about 16% from FY2021 to FY2025 with no down year in the snapshot. Roughly seven of every eight current-year dollars are renewals at mid-year, which is typical of a mature portfolio where long-running cohorts, consortia, and centers absorb much of the base. Momentum is easier to find in sub-areas (technology, atypical diabetes, prevention) than in the headline number.
Yearly NIH Awards for Diabetes research
Counts and total funding per fiscal year from NIH RePORTER. Recent fiscal years may understate final totals because of reporting lag.
| Fiscal Year | Project Count | Total Funding | Avg Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2021 | 6,141 | $3,210,739,148 | $522,837 |
| FY2022 | 6,123 | $3,369,042,355 | $550,227 |
| FY2023 | 6,273 | $3,510,337,165 | $559,595 |
| FY2024 | 6,044 | $3,348,170,414 | $553,966 |
| FY2025 | 5,381 | $3,728,267,239 | $692,858 |
| FY2026 | 2,064 | $1,166,718,311 | $565,270 |
Open the full interactive trends view for Diabetes research →
Top NIH Institutes (last 90 days)
Which NIH institutes funded the most Diabetes projects in the most recent 90-day window.
| Institute | Awards (90d) | Funding (90d) |
|---|---|---|
| NIH | 492 | $265,765,705 |
| VA | 8 | $0 |
Common Activity Codes (last 90 days)
Which grant mechanisms (R01, R21, U01, P30, etc.) appeared most often for Diabetes in the recent period.
Most Active Institutions (last 90 days)
Universities and research organizations with the most Diabetes awards in the most recent 90-day window.
- BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE — 15 awards
- MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL — 13 awards
- JOSLIN DIABETES CENTER — 12 awards
- UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH — 12 awards
- VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER — 12 awards
- YALE UNIVERSITY — 12 awards
- WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY — 11 awards
- UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER — 10 awards
Recently Awarded Diabetes research Grants
Twelve most recent awards mentioning Diabetes, drawn from NIH RePORTER. Click through to Find PIs for the full investigator search.
Standardization of C-Peptide and HbA1C Measurements Program
5U01DK133106-05Kuanysh Kabytaev · UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA, MO · $440,557 · awarded Jun 5, 2026 · U01Project Summary Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder characterized by insulin deficiency, hyperglycemia and high risk for development of complications of the eyes, kidneys, peripheral nerves, heart and blood vessels. The disease is highly prevalent, affecting more than 30 million people in the U.S. Monitoring of glycemic control has traditionally been…
Elucidating the mechanisms of Glis3-regulated development in the pancreas and kidney
5R16DK147815-02GARY ZERUTH · MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY, KY · $116,376 · awarded Jun 5, 2026 · R16Project Summary Embryonic development is orchestrated through complex networks of genes that specify cell fates and choreograph the migration and reorganization of cells into tissues. Mutations within developmental genes can both give rise to birth defects and increase susceptibility to diseases later in life. The transcription factor, Gli-similar 3 (Glis3)…
The Warburg Effect and Diabetic Retinopathy
5R01EY034964-04Ahmed Ibrahim · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, MI · $385,000 · awarded Jun 5, 2026 · R01Project Summary/Abstract Retinal neovascularization (RNV) is a debilitating complication of advanced diabetic retinopathy, which despite the use of anti-VEGF and laser treatments continues to cause blindness. Less is known as to why RNV develops only after patients have had diabetes for decades. Although endothelial cell (EC) angiogenic activation is a…
Promoting Uptake of Evidence-Based DiaBetes and Prediabetes Screening to Increase HeaLth Effectiveness Study (PEBBLES)
1R01DK142813-01A1OBIDIUGWU DURU · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES, CA · $751,436 · awarded Jun 4, 2026 · R01PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Recent updates to US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines now recommend T2D/prediabetes screening for all adults ages 35-70 with overweight/obesity (BMI >25). These guidelines expanded to include younger ages (prior guidelines started at age 40) and specify that individuals who screen positively for prediabetes be referred to…
Regulation of Insulin Sensitivity by a Novel Adipokine
1R01DK147451-01Sona Kang · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY, CA · $794,101 · awarded Jun 4, 2026 · R01Project Summary Obesity and diabetes are escalating global health crises, with insulin resistance serving as a key pathogenic feature of both obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Adipose tissue is a central regulator of systemic insulin sensitivity, and its dysfunction is a hallmark of obesity-related metabolic diseases. Adipokines play critical roles in…
Impact of circulating and tissue-specific lipids on vascular function and insulin sensitivity in chronic night shift workers
3R01HL168081-03S1Josiane Broussard · COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, CO · $197,274 · awarded Jun 4, 2026 · R01PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT There is growing recognition that timing of behaviors, such as eating, sleeping, and physical activity, have a significant impact on human health and disease risk. For example, when people are awake at the “wrong” time of the day (i.e. during the biological night), a mismatch occurs between behavior and biology, termed circadian…
Interactions between the Gut Microbiome, Intestinal Development and Metabolic Health after Fetal Growth Restriction
5K08DK139411-02Stephanie Gilley · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER, CO · $129,510 · awarded Jun 4, 2026 · K08PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Fetal growth restriction (FGR) impacts 10-20% of pregnancies worldwide and increases the offspring’s risk for later development of obesity and type 2 diabetes due to incompletely understood mechanisms. The focus of this proposal is the nexus of intestinal development and gut microbiome establishment. Gut microbial composition…
RARE and Atypical Diabetes Network(RADIANT)
5U54DK118638-08ASHOK BALASUBRAMANYAM · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, TX · $2,499,999 · awarded Jun 3, 2026 · U54Diabetes is traditionally classified in two broad categories: autoimmune Type 1 and obesity-related Type 2. Numerous phenotypically and etiologically distinct forms exist and are emerging, collectively termed “atypical diabetes”, that do not fit into either category. We hypothesize that atypical diabetes comprises a spectrum that includes numerous forms,…
Center for Identification and Study of Individuals with Atypical Diabetes Mellitus
5U54DK118612-08Louis Philipson · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, IL · $2,500,000 · awarded Jun 3, 2026 · U54Diabetes is traditionally classified in two broad categories: autoimmune Type 1 and obesity-related Type 2. Numerous phenotypically and etiologically distinct forms exist and are emerging, collectively termed “atypical diabetes”, that do not fit into either category. We hypothesize that atypical diabetes comprises a spectrum that includes numerous forms,…
Diabetes Prediction During Pregnancy and In Utero Using Pancreas MRI
5R01HD115565-03JOHN VIROSTKO · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, TX · $636,458 · awarded Jun 3, 2026 · R01PROJECT SUMMARY The pancreas is smaller in individuals with diabetes and individuals at increased risk for developing diabetes, suggesting that small pancreas size may convey risk for developing the disease. However, it is not known whether individuals at risk for developing diabetes are born with a smaller pancreas or whether their pancreas shrinks as part…
Dietary Predictors of New-Onset Diabetes following Acute Pancreatitis in the DREAM Study.
5K01DK140625-03Djibril Ba · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR, PA · $162,459 · awarded Jun 3, 2026 · K01Project Summary/Abstract: This is an application for a K01 award for Djibril M. Ba, PhD, MPH, an assistant professor at the Penn State College of Medicine in the Department of Public Health Sciences. Dr. Ba is uniquely qualified to conduct this research project based on a strong foundation in nutritional epidemiology for examining diets in relation to…
Developing a predictive risk score for pre-diabetes in youth.
5K23DK139457-02Monica Bianco · LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO, IL · $189,172 · awarded Jun 3, 2026 · K23PROJECT SUMMARY The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and youth onset type 2 diabetes (YT2D) is increasing. IGT in adolescence is an indicator of increased risk for YT2D. Compared to adults, YT2D is associated with high therapeutic failure rates, decreased response to insulin sensitizers, and rapid progression to diabetes-related complications…
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