CoBRE: Mentoring Diabetes Research in Oklahoma


Jian-xing Ma, MD, PhD - PI (right) and Timothy J. Lyons, MD - Co-PI (left)
Sarah Zhang, MD - one of the five PJI's working in the background

            Diabetes is developing into a pandemic of the early 21st century.  Its prevalence in Oklahoma is higher than in most other states in the US, with almost 10% of the population affected.  Diabetes is particularly prevalent among Native American communities, where it affects up to 40% of older individuals in some tribes.  Oklahoma has almost 400,000 Native Americans, second only to California in absolute numbers.  Moreover, because many Oklahomans live in rural and relatively under-served areas, many diabetic patients are not diagnosed or treated until complications occur. Thus, diabetes represents a major threat to the health of the working population, and constitutes an immense social and economic burden in Oklahoma.

            The diabetes research program at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) has expanded rapidly since 2002.  In 2005, diabetes research was identified as one of the top two priorities in the Provost’s Research Strategic Plan for the next five years. The State Legislature approved $10.5 million in 2006 as initial support to establish the Oklahoma Diabetes Center, a new program of the University of Oklahoma.   The Oklahoma Diabetes Center leaders (Drs. Lyons (Director), Ma (Research Director), and Copeland (Director, Pediatric Program)) all view basic and clinical research as the core activity of the Center, one that drives excellence in its clinical, education, and prevention programs.  They are also committed to a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach, spanning different departments across the campuses of the University of Oklahoma, and integrating the efforts not only of basic and clinical scientists, but also of the adult and pediatric programs.

            To enhance our diabetes research program in Oklahoma, we plan to train intensively our best junior investigators and to attract other new investigators into the area diabetes research.  This CoBRE application is designed to help in accomplishing these goals, and is strongly supported by the OUHSC leadership, the president of the University, and the state government. The Specific Aims are:

To mentor promising junior investigators (PJIs) in diabetes research, enabling them to become independent NIH funded investigators. Five PJIs have been selected. Each has been assigned at least one mentor who is an established diabetes researcher in Oklahoma with expertise related to the PJI’s project. In addition, five distinguished scientists in diabetes research outside of Oklahoma will serve as External Advisors to direct, assist, and mentor the PJIs. Five reserve PJI candidates have been chosen to fill the PJI positions when the current PJIs graduate from the program, as is expected after two to three years. Together with the OUHSC Strategic Plan, the CoBRE will enhance the training of talented young investigators, and the recruitment of new junior investigators to expand our diabetes research program.

To establish and develop research infrastructure to support diabetes research, optimize the research environment for the PJIs, and form a core resource for the emerging Oklahoma Diabetes Center. Four shared Cores will be established in this CoBRE to assist the PJIs’ projects and to serve the diabetes research community in Oklahoma.

To foster and enhance collaborations between basic scientists and clinicians, and to facilitate translational research directed toward the development of new treatments and preventive measures for diabetes and its complications. The five PJIs have diverse projects ranging from basic bench research to population-based and intervention studies. The mentoring team includes established scientists and clinicians with experience in diabetes research and diabetes care. The CoBRE will promote partnerships not only between basic and clinician researchers in the Adult and Pediatric Sections of Endocrinology and Diabetes, but also with basic science departments, and with the OUHSC GCRC and its Special Populations Unit (SPU, see also Resources) in order to strengthen translational research.

To improve diabetes research and intervention among Native Americans. Some of the mentors have ongoing projects to study diabetes in Native Americans, using the GCRC SPU. Two of the PJI projects are designed to study genetic contributions and interventions for Native American diabetic patients. This CoBRE will promote and establish partnerships with the Indian tribes to improve current research of diabetes in tribal populations, and to develop new interventions and treatments for diabetic complications.