NIH awards $11 million for UK diabetes prevention research

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 24, 2025) — University of Kentucky researchers were recently awarded a prestigious Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant that will significantly bolster diabetes prevention research. 

The five-year, $11 million grant from the National Institute for General Medical Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will fund the UK Diabetes Prevention COBRE (UK-DPC). With this grant, the UK-DPC will strengthen the foundation of diabetes prevention research by expanding and modernizing diabetes-focused infrastructure across campus and throughout the Commonwealth. 

“Thousands of families are touched by diabetes in Kentucky. But at UK, our researchers are advancing the promise of innovative diabetes research to improve the lives of Kentuckians — they are, as always, turning discovery into hope,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “This grant strengthens both our research and our resolve to ensure a Commonwealth tomorrow that is healthier, wealthier and wiser than it is today.” 

Simon Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., and Barbara Nikolajczyk, Ph.D., were awarded the highly competitive grant to build much-needed capacity for diabetes prevention research. The work of the UK-DPC will benefit the nation and Kentucky — where an estimated 38% of adults have prediabetes. 

“Kentucky faces a very high burden of diabetes,” said Fisher, director of the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center and chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. “Ongoing research, clinical programs and outreach at the University of Kentucky have advanced our understanding and treatment of diabetes. This grant will allow us to expand that work and help build a healthier state now and in the future.” 

“Diabetes affects families in every corner of the state,” said Nikolajczyk, associate director for translational research at the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center. “We are honored that the NIH has chosen to support the expansion of diabetes prevention expertise at UK. This investment strengthens our ability to reduce rates of type 2 diabetes and improve long-term health outcomes for Kentuckians.” 

This investment arrives at a critical moment for Kentucky, where diabetes and prediabetes remain among the state’s most urgent health challenges. By growing research capacity, expanding prevention programs and fostering new scientific talent, the UK-DPC will help reverse long-standing health disparities and improve outcomes for communities across the Commonwealth. 

This grant from the NIH complements ongoing diabetes research efforts at UK supported by the Barnstable Brown family, the Bill Gatton Foundation, the UK Office of the Vice President for Research and the UK College of Medicine. The UK-DPC will advance work toward a healthier Kentucky and the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center will continue to serve as a national leader in diabetes research. 

“This COBRE grant is transformative,” said Chipper Griffith, M.D., dean of the UK College of Medicine. “It gives our researchers the tools, mentorship and infrastructure they need to push the boundaries of what’s possible in diabetes prevention. Most importantly, it positions Kentucky as a national leader in fighting a disease that touches nearly every family in our state.” 

The grant will pair new research infrastructure with personalized mentorship teams and pilot grant programs to develop a world-class cohort of junior investigators. This next generation of scientists and clinicians will be crucial for addressing the many health care challenges associated with prediabetes and diabetes. 

This grant also supports early-stage faculty development by providing training in advanced analytic techniques and expanding biomedical research facilities — ensuring that cutting-edge medicine and discovery continue to flourish in Kentucky for years to come. 

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number P20GM156679. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.