COVID-19 funding opportunity: MDiabetes COVID-19 and Metabolic Disease Grant Program
Diabetes, along with its spectrum of related and comorbid diseases, represents one of the most prevalent and devastating health problems in Michigan, across the U.S., and worldwide. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses an enormous number of challenges, many of them disproportionately affecting those with such conditions.
To understand and begin to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on those with diabetes and related disorders, MDiabetes and its partner centers — the Michigan Diabetes Research Center (MDRC), the Michigan Center for Diabetes Translational Research (MCDTR), and the Michigan Nutrition and Obesity Research Center (MNORC) — request applications to address the impact of COVID-19 on and improve the care of those with diabetes and related disorders.
These applications can address issues with COVID-19 patients or issues with non-infected individuals who are impacted by the disruption to health care delivery and life in general.
Please note that while many research programs are currently on hold at Michigan Medicine, COVID-19-related projects are considered a priority and may be pursued as long as they do not involve undue risk to researchers and participants. For the full Michigan Medicine policy on research in the current pandemic environment, click here.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Pharmacotherapy (e.g., ACE inhibitors, metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, insulin, GLP1R agonists, etc) and impacts on COVID-19
- Supply chain disruptions as they relate to diabetes: insulin, testing supplies, pump supplies, common diabetes medications
- Impact on lifestyle – e.g. changes in diet, exercise, stress, social interactions
- Severe hyperglycemia and risk of DKA in the presence of COVID-19, risk factor profiles in diabetes predictive of severe COVID-19 complications
- Impact of the hyperglycemia management on COVID-19 infection rates, treatment response, and specifics of inpatient management of hyperglycemia in severe COVID-19 patients
- Rate and severity of DKA, complications, or other diabetes-related aspects of health (including obesity) due to disruptions in care
- Effects of COVID-19 on the rate of diabetic foot ulcers healing, risk of severe foot infections, predictive biomarkers
- Impact switch to virtual visit from face-to-face care, including foot care, social work and related aspects of care
- Innovations in telehealth, remote monitoring, and the public health policy
- Interactions between COVID-19 and diabetes comorbid conditions (including diabetic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, neuropathy, obesity and NASH)
- Impact of underlying chronic diseases and social determinants of health (SDOH) on COVID-19 in those with diabetes, obesity, and related conditions
- Potential mechanisms for enhanced viral load and inflammatory responses in patients with diabetes and/or obesity and COVID-19
- Differences in patient phenotypes and risks in Michigan Medicine patients compared with other locations (e.g., Italy, China, etc.)
Eligibility
U-M-based faculty with appropriate expertise to address the impact of COVID-19 on, and to improve, the care of those with diabetes and related disorders.
Proposals
Due date: Rolling, beginning April 6, 2020
Applications will be reviewed and funded on a rolling basis by the MDiabetes COVID-19 review committee, with funding available immediately.
Funding of up to $50,000 is available, to be expended over a term of up to two years.
Awardees are required to submit brief reports detailing research progress, publications, and additional grant funding after one year, and annually thereafter.
To apply:
To apply for this RFA please use the following link to enter the MM Competition Space.
