Diabetes Research

If you have diabetes, or are a family member of someone with diabetes, you may be eligible to take part in one of the many studies offered at Seattle Children's.

Current Research Studies

Please visit our Current Research Studies page for detailed information on:

Participate in Research

You can help us answer questions about childhood health and illness and help other children in the future. Learn more about clinical trials and research studies at Seattle Children’s.

Investigator Biography

Cate Pihoker Diabetes Research 

As Seattle Children's principal investigator for SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth and other diabetes research studies, Dr. Cate Pihoker is leading national efforts to gain a better understanding of the differences in the development, clinical presentation, and health outcomes in youth with diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is a major health concern affecting about 16 million Americans. It is a leading cause of nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, and coronary and peripheral vascular disease. It is the third-most-prevalent severe chronic disease of childhood in the United States.

Now serving as chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Seattle Children's, Pihoker first became interested in endocrinology during her residency at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. She enjoys taking care of children with chronic conditions, and working to improve their medical outcomes and quality of life. Her involvement in diabetes research stemmed from her clinical observations of overweight children, particularly from diverse populations, with type 2 diabetes.