Dr. Gail Nunlee-Bland, M.D. '80, has received NIH grants to fund two diabetes projects - The Working to Engage Insulin-Resistant Group Health Using Technology Study (W.E.I.G.H.T. Study) and The Living Smartly with Diabetes using Patient Web Portal (PWP) and Mobile PWP for Self-Mangement. The objective of the W.E.I.G.H.T. Study is to implement and evaluate the preventive benefits in African American adolescents and young adults who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes using state-of-the-art communications and networking technologies. The object of the Living Smartly with Diabetes project are to improve PMP use by removing barriers through patient and provider focus groups, redesign the current PWP using feedback from the focus groups with the assistance of health science librarians, integrate the Smartphone with the existing PWP for enhanced patient/provider communication and health information, and measure patient activation for improved diabetes self-management. A combined $1,299,766 has been awarded to fund these two projects over 5 years ending in 2017.