Columbia Diabetes Research Center

The Columbia University Diabetes Research Center promotes diabetes research at the largest academic medical center in the largest U.S. metropolitan area. The DRC fosters integration with existing institutional centers of excellence in obesity, atherosclerosis, neurobiology, and cardiovascular biology. It endeavors to fulfill its mission in an equitable, inclusive manner by fostering equal opportunities for individuals of all genders, ethnic, and socio-economic extractions. Its scientific themes are: (i) Integrated physiology of insulin action and resistance; (ii) Diabetes, dyslipidemia, and heart disease; (iii) Pancreas development, beta cell function, and cellular replacement therapies; (iv) Genetics and immunology of Type 1 Diabetes; (v) Global health, health disparities, and underserved urban populations. The Biomedical Research Base is comprised of 78 NIH- funded investigators at Columbia, and 4 associate members at sister institutions in New York City. Total research funding exceeds $ 81M in annual direct costs, including 91 investigator-initiated NIH grants directly related to diabetes totaling nearly $56M in annual direct costs. Of these, NIDDK funds 64 projects totaling $18M in annual direct costs. The DRC supports four technical Core Facilities: Translational Biomarker Analytical Core (TBAC); Advanced Tissue Pathology Imaging Core (ATPIC); Mouse Metabolic Function & Phenotyping Core (MMFPC); Cytometry & Cell Sorting Core (CCSC). These facilities have been used to capacity by 66 investigators funded by 102 grants and have supported the award of 45 new grants during the current cycle. Additionally, the DRC provides $250K annually for investigators through a Pilot & Feasibility Grant Program (PF). During the current cycle, this program supported 13 awardees selected from 90 Letters of Inquiry and 51 complete applications. The 11 recipients of completed PF awards have applied for 12 new grants and obtained 7, 6 of which are funded by NIH, totaling ~$ 2.8M in annual direct costs. 11 of 13 funded investigators remain active in diabetes research. The DRC supports a successful Enrichment Program to increase awareness of diabetes research in the local scientific/academic and promote regional, national, and international collaborations. The Administrative Core provides logistical support and programmatic leadership, financial oversight and integration of research efforts, core facilities, and PF administration. During the current funding cycle, the DRC has endeavored to advance NIDDK’s mission by: (i) supporting original, innovative and high impact research by its members; (ii) raising awareness of and interest in clinical and basic diabetes research; (iii) enhancing training and other diabetes-related educational opportunities; (iv) attracting new investigators to diabetes research; (vi) fostering a collegial environment to facilitate information exchange; (vii) providing impetus and resources to translate basic science discoveries into clinical care and community initiatives to improve the health of people with diabetes; and (viii) leveraging local and national philanthropic and diabetes advocacy resources.