The primary objective of this T32 renewal proposal is to continue the University of Minnesota (UMN) Pediatric Endocrinology Program's tradition of guiding pediatric endocrinology fellows into academic careers, by providing intensive training in basic, translational, patient-oriented, or education science. Our secondary objective is to provide an environment that will facilitate the successful advancement of women into academic careers. The program has been highly successful in achieving its goals. From its inception in 2004 through the summer of 2019, we will have graduated 11 fellows from the 3 year training program, with an additional 3 in training. Nine of our 11 graduates are women, and 7 currently have University faculty appointments. Two are Associate Professors one is expected be promoted to Professor within the next couple years. Our goal at last renewal was to increase the diversity of our trainees, which we achieved by recruiting both an Hispanic and an Africa American fellow. Fellows are selected based on a demonstrated desire to pursue research training. They may follow a clinical/translational, a basic science, or a medical education path, and are expected to obtain a master's degree to formally and rigorously prepare them for a scholarly career. We work closely with incoming fellows to join their research interests with available opportunities and experienced mentors who can support their training and provide guidance for advancement to the next phase of their academic careers. The core group of senior faculty mentors are well established investigators, selected for their ability to impart a culture of responsible, rigorous, and robust science, as is the tradition of the UMN. Numerous and varied research opportunities are available. The program has particular research strengths in the critical public health domains of diabetes, obesity, and metabolism. Members of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology enjoy a strong tradition of scientific collaboration with other divisions within the Department of Pediatrics, other departments within the UMN, and other institutions including the Mayo Clinic. This provides fellows with a rich environment for scientific collaboration. The program trains physician scientists in the spectrum of skills necessary to be well-grounded in the fundamental underpinnings of their research area by the completion of fellowship so they are ready to enter a junior faculty academic research position.

Public Health Relevance

Pediatric endocrine diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes profoundly impact the future of both the affected individuals and society as a whole. There is an urgent public health need to educate physician scientists to tackle these critical problems through innovative scientific discovery and its translation into clinical practice. T32 funding since 2004 at the University of Minnesota has allowed a group of experienced mentors with extensive research experience to successfully train the next generation of academic pediatric endocrinologists.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
2T32DK065519-16A1
Application #
9927749
Study Section
Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases D Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Castle, Arthur
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2025-06-30
Budget Start
2020-07-01
Budget End
2021-06-30
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
555917996
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55455
Bellin, Melena D; Forlenza, Gregory P; Majumder, Kaustav et al. (2017) Total Pancreatectomy With Islet Autotransplantation Resolves Pain in Young Children With Severe Chronic Pancreatitis. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 64:440-445
Sarafoglou, Kyriakie; Forlenza, Gregory P; Yaw Addo, O et al. (2017) Obesity in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia in the Minnesota cohort: importance of adjusting body mass index for height-age. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 86:708-716
Beisang, Daniel; Forlenza, Gregory P; Luquette, Mark et al. (2017) Sporadic Insulinoma Presenting as Early Morning Night Terrors. Pediatrics 139:
Halper, Alyssa; Hooke, Mary C; Gonzalez-Bolanos, Maria Teresa et al. (2017) Health-related quality of life in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Health Qual Life Outcomes 15:194
Forlenza, Gregory P; Nathan, Brandon M; Moran, Antoinette et al. (2016) Accuracy of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Patients After Total Pancreatectomy with Islet Autotransplantation. Diabetes Technol Ther 18:455-63
Hamdoun, Elwaseila; Karachunski, Peter; Nathan, Brandon et al. (2016) Case Report: The Specter of Untreated Congenital Hypothyroidism in Immigrant Families. Pediatrics 137:
Forlenza, G P; Nathan, B M; Moran, A M et al. (2016) Successful Application of Closed-Loop Artificial Pancreas Therapy After Islet Autotransplantation. Am J Transplant 16:527-34
Halvorsen, Tanya; Moran, Antoinette; Jacobs Jr, David R et al. (2015) Relation of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors between Parents and Children. J Pediatr 167:1049-56.e2
Forlenza, Gregory P; Calhoun, Amy; Beckman, Kenneth B et al. (2015) Next generation sequencing in endocrine practice. Mol Genet Metab 115:61-71
Forlenza, Gregory P; Polgreen, Lynda E; Miller, Bradley S et al. (2014) Growth hormone treatment of patients with Fanconi anemia after hematopoietic cell transplantation. Pediatr Blood Cancer 61:1142-3

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