Gained experience working in a clinical research environment. Completed the Human Subjects Research training courses offered through the CITI program enabling me to work with the epidemiologic data collected through the clinical research for a pediatric Type 1 diabetes study. Completed all required training modules (e.g. Bloodbourne Pathogens) to be EHS compliant

1. Type I Diabetes (T1D) Clinical Research Internship at the Barbara Davis Center
for Diabetes – University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Shaely Folger
Overview
• Internship site: the location of the internship was at the Barbara Davis Center
for Diabetes at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in the
Department of Pediatrics in Aurora, Colorado.
Photo 1: Barbara Davis Center, (2020).
• Overall mission: Research aims to target the causes of Type I Diabetes (T1D)
and detect early signs of autoimmunity to exploit measures of prevention and
early intervention.
• Internship goals:
- gain experience in a clinical research environment, working under an
internship supervisor, following directions, protocols, and responsibilities in an
environment similar to which I might be faced in future health care careers.
- complete Human Subjects Research training courses offered through the
CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) program that will allow me to
work with and analyze biomarkers and epidemiologic data as well as gain
practical experience in human subjects research and design.
- complete EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) training, especially the
Bloodborne Pathogens training which outlines common bloodborne diseases and
how researchers could potentially be exposed, reviews standard precautions,
explains what personal protective equipment is required, and demonstrates
work practices that will help control against exposure.
Tasks Performed
Background Information and Results Discussion
• This internship required CITI training modules that
have solidified and enhanced my knowledge on the
procedural aspects, ethical standards and
organizational habits used in clinical research
studies involving human subjects. This is the
foundation essential for my future health career(s).
• I have also gained a better understanding on the
physiological mechanisms of insulin and blood
glucose levels in Type 1 Diabetic patients and what
the possible causes of T1D are and how they might
affect the beta cells in the pancreas.
• I was able to complete my first two goals previously
mentioned; however, I was not able to complete
any EHS training that is required to do in-person
due to the COVID-19 online transformation.
• Because of the online transformation, my
supervisor assigned the TEDDY and DAISY studies
to read in order to better understand study
designs, procedures, statistical analysis, and overall
discussions pertaining to Type 1 Diabetes clinical
research studies.
Acknowledgements
Citations
1. Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes. (2020, March 26) [Facebook Photo].
Facebook. Retrieved from
https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraDavisCenter4Diabetes/photos/a.1814636787
26858/1449205041952709/?type=3&theater
2. Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes. (n.d.). DAISY The diabetes auto immunity
study in the young. [DAISY Logo] Retrieved from
https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/barbara-davis-center-for-
diabetes/research/clinical-epidemiology/daisy-research
3. Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative. (n.d.). [CITI Logo] Retrieved from
https://www.citiprogram.org/members/index.cfm?pageID=50
4. Khan Academy. (n.d.). What is diabetes mellitus? [Insulin Sketches]. Retrieved
from https://www.khanacademy.org/science/health-and-medicine/endocrine-
system-diseases/diabetes/a/what-is-diabetes-mellitus
5. Lamb, M. M., Frederiksen, B., Seifert, J. A., Kroehl, M., Rewers, M., & Norris, J.
M. (2015). Sugar intake is associated with progression from islet autoimmunity to
type 1 diabetes: the Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the
Young. Diabetologia, 58(9), 2027–2034. doi: 10.1007/s00125-015-3657-x
6. Pitchika, A., Vehik, K., Hummel, S., Norris, J. M., Uusitalo, U. M., Yang, J., …
Beyerlein, A. (2018). Associations of Maternal Diabetes During Pregnancy with
Overweight in Offspring: Results from the Prospective TEDDY
Study. Obesity, 26(9), 1457–1466. doi: 10.1002/oby.22264
7. TEDDY. (n.d.). Finding diabetes early can prevent serious illness and
complications. [TEDDY Logo]. Retrieved from https://teddy.epi.usf.edu/
Addressing My Goals
• Filed numerous food surveys for diabetic patients from 2013 – 2016 according to
their patient ID number.
• Completed the CITI Human Subjects Research training courses:
- CITI Health Information Privacy and Security (HIPS) for Students and
Instructors
- Biomedical Responsible Conduct of Research
- Group 4: ICH/GCP - meets NIH requirements
- Group 1: Biomedical Investigators
• Analyzed TEDDY (The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young) and
DAISY (Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young) studies in lieu of in-person
assignments
I would like to thank my Faculty Sponsor and
Instructor, Molly Nepokroeff, my Site Supervisor,
Jennifer Seifert, and my Internship Advisor, Matthew
Smith for their patience, understanding, and immense
help throughout the internship process.
Photo 2: Diabetic Patients’ Eating Surveys to be
filed; patient names and IDs crossed out to
ensure patient confidentiality
https://www.citiprogram.org
https://teddy.epi.usf.edu/
https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/barbara-davis-center-for-
diabetes/research/clinical-epidemiology/daisy-research
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/health-and-medicine/endocrine-system-diseases/diabetes/a/what-is-diabetes-mellitus
a)
b)
Figure 1: Regulation of glucose and insulin where a) is a non-diabetic pathway with normal, active beta cells and b) is a diabetic
pathway depicting abnormal, inactive beta cells.
Figure 2: Flowchart that demonstrates the children
analyzed and their respective categories, where GDM:
gestational diabetes mellitus; T1DM: type 1 diabetes
mellitus; T2DM: type 2 diabetes mellitus
Figure 3: Annual follow-up in the autoimmune period of a) mean
of total sugar intake and b) mean of sugar-sweetened beverage
intake for three different groups of children. Squares denote
children who have developed T1D and had the HLA high-risk
genotype; triangles denote children who have developed T1D but
did not have HLA genotype; circles denote children who did not
develop T1D.
Pitchika et al., (2018)
Lamb et al., (2015)