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Announcing the WU-CDTR 2023-2024 Pilot & Feasibility Awardees

The Washington University Center for Diabetes Translation Research is thrilled to announce this year’s distinguished pilot and feasibility award recipients.

In line with the Center’s mission to support groundbreaking advancements in the translation of diabetes research, we are honored to support the growth and development of these exceptionally talented early-stage investigators.

WU-CDTR Pilot Awardees

S. Cortez

Samuel Cortez, MD

Instructor, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (Pediatrics)

Study Title: Changes in Metabolic milieu after initiation of Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy in Transgender Young Adults: The Snapshot Study

Study Purpose: Examine the compact of GAHT on systemic metobolites and metabolite rations that could be contributing to the cardiometabolic derangement in the transgender population


D. Ferris (Photo © Whitney Curtis)

Daniel Ferris, Phd

Assistant Professor of Practice, Washington University in St. Louis Brown School

Study Title: From Translation to Transformation: Medically Tailored Meals and Food-is-Medicine Approaches for Reducing Health Disparities in Diabetes Management

Study Purpose: Examine outcomes from a comprehensive Medically Tailored Meals intervention that includes medically tailored groceries, nutrition therapy, and nutrition education on inequitable clinical and biopsychosocial outcomes of adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, while addressing the implementation science gap around these programs.


D. Krobath

Danielle Krobath, PhD, MS

Assistant Professor, University of South Carolina (beginning August 2024)

Study Title: Building Capacity in Nutrition and Health Equity: Identifying Mechanisms Linking Multidimensional Discrimination Exposure with Type 2 Diabetes Disparities in Youth

Study Purpose: Study the relationship between interpersonal discrimination, neighborhood-level discrimination, health behaviors and type 2 diabetes risk.


G. McLoughlin

Gabriella McLoughlin, PhD, MS

Assistant Professor, Temple University

Study Title: Evaluation of a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to Enhance Equitable Partnerships in School Meal Implementation

Study Purpose: Evaluate the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of recruiting a CAB which reflects the demographics and characteristics of the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) and surrounding community; and assess determinants of these outcomes through a health equity lens using mixed methods.

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