Clinical
Director:
David B. Allison, PhD
Associate Director: W. Timothy Garvey, MD
The Clinical Nutrition Research
Center (CNRC) was established under the leadership of Dr. Roland Weinsier. Its purpose is to foster a multidisciplinary
approach to basic, clinical and translational research with an emphasis on
understanding the metabolic, environmental, and genetic factors underlying
nutrition and obesity-related disorders; to better understand the consequences
of these disorders; and ultimately to lead to better methods for treatment and
prevention. The CNRC is supported by an
NIH center grant (P30DK056336) and currently has over 100 appointed faculty
representing 27 departments and 7 schools at UAB.
Center Research
The Center’s research focuses on
nutrition and obesity. To foster
research, the Center provides a Pilot/Feasibility program which annually offers
between two and five $25,000 grants to investigators new to the fields of
obesity or nutrition. A second year of
funding is possible based on a competitive renewal process. One Pilot/Feasibility grant awardee is also selected as the Center’s Named New
Investigator and is eligible to receive up to $35,000 per year in salary
support, in addition to the grant. The
Center also maintains several labs (described below) and has access to
specialized equipment, including a respiration chamber to measure 24-hour
energy expenditure and substrate oxidation; an underwater weighing system; a BodPod for measuring whole-body density using air
displacement plethysmography; a Lunar Prodigy
dual-energy x-ray absorptiometer; a hormone substrate
assay facility; a muscle molecular and histochemistry
laboratory; and a small animal phenotyping facility.
CNRU Labs and Resources
The
CNRU offers extensive laboratory and personnel resources in support of
nutrition and obesity-related research.
Center resources include four Core Laboratories: the Metabolism Core,
the Genetics and Molecular Methods Development Core, the Small Animal Phenotyping Core, and the Biostatistics and Statistical
Genetics Core.
1. Metabolism
Core. Directed
by Barbara Gower, PhD, this Core offers approximately 4,000 square feet of
laboratory space for assessments of energy expenditure (short-term and
free-living), fuel utilization, body composition, hormone/substrate assays, and
insulin sensitivity testing. All of
these assessments are performed routinely in pediatric and adult subjects. The Metabolism Core and its related
laboratory facilities offer the following resources:
Human Energy
Expenditure and Body Composition
·
Respiration chamber for measurements of 24-hour
energy expenditure and substrate oxidation
·
Deltatrac Metabolic Monitor
for measurements of resting energy expenditure and substrate utilization
·
GC/IRMS assessment of O18 and deuterium
for determination of total body water and free-living energy expenditure by
doubly-labeled water
·
Underwater weighing and air displacement plethysmography for body composition assessment
·
Analysis of abdominal fat distribution from CT scan
(scans performed in the Department of Radiology)
Hormone/Substrate
Analyses
·
Insulin, glucose, lipids, hormones (e.g., leptin, adiponectin, steroid
hormones)
·
Mathematical modeling for insulin sensitivity
determination using the Bergman minimal model
2. Genetics
Core. Under the direction of W. Timothy
Garvey, MD, this Core provides investigators performing
nutrition/obesity-related research access to common Core resources in order to
enhance and strengthen the quality of genetic and molecular studies. The CNRC Genetics Core Facility is located
in the
Core Services. The
Nutritional Genomics Component/Facility offers consultation and services
in the area of molecular methods development, genome analysis, and management
of genetic databases and sample banks, as specified below:
·
Sample processing and DNA extraction and storage
·
Biomedical Sample Bank and Database Management
· Racial genetic admixture assessment (in
consultation with Dr. M. Shriver)
·
Quantitative RT-PCR
·
Automated DNA fragment analysis and polymorphism
typing
·
DNA sequencing
·
Semi-automated RNA and DNA fragment analysis
(Agilent Bioanalyzer)
· Mouse marker genotyping for speedcongenics
·
Microsatellites (mouse and human)
·
Molecular and bioinformatics consultation services
In
addition to its traditional DNA analyses, the Core is expanding services in two
areas. The first is in DNA extraction
and storage combined with banking of biological specimens and database
management. CNRC investigators have
studied several large human population samples and are engaged in several
funded cohort studies. The Core has
centralized services for banking of the biological specimens (serum, plasma,
urine, DNA, muscle/fat biopsies) and database management. This has increased the efficiency and
efficacy of these processes, facilitated cross-collaboration, and expanded the
capacity for hypothesis testing.
Investigators can now draw from a larger pool of data in collaboration
with their colleagues to test specific hypotheses, and appropriate biological
samples can be identified electronically and aliquoted
for targeted assays. Of course the Core
is careful to assure that all IRB and informed consent procedures are in place
for these studies.
The second area of development is
quantification of racial genetic admixture.
Based on emerging interests among our investigators, it is anticipated
the racial admixture typing will eventually become a major focus of the Core’s
activities. We believe this variable is
critical for better understanding the causes of health disparities. This capacity of the Core will support our
investigators in studying the genetic basis of obesity, the Metabolic Syndrome,
and other nutritional diseases. Since
Caucasian admixture can vary widely in African American individuals, this
variable will be quantified to assess the impact of racial genetic composition on
obesity phenotypes. Thus, the need for
these services will increase. The typing
involves a panel of ancestry informative genetic markers, and Dr. Mark Shriver
at
·
Body composition by chemical carcass analysis
·
In vivo body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in mice, rats, and other small animals
·
In vivo fat distribution using micro-computed
tomography (uCT)
·
In vivo liver
fat content
·
Bone mineral content and density using DXA and uCT
·
24-hr energy expenditure and substrate oxidation in
mice and rats
·
Caloric content of food and feces via bomb calorimetry
·
Insulin sensitivity via hyperinulinemic-euglycemic
clamps
4.
Biostatistics/Statistical Genetics Core. Under the direction of Renee Desmond, DVM, PhD,
this Core provides advice in study design, power calculations, data
acquisition/ management, and appropriate statistical methods of analysis and
reporting. The specific aims of the Biostatistics Core are to:
·
coordinate and manage statistical activities to
ensure that investigators have ready access to statistical consultation and
support;
·
provide statistical consultation on study design
and research proposal development;
·
provide statistical analyses for CNRU projects
including statistical genetics;
·
participate in teaching and training activities of
the CNRU; and
·
develop methodologies for novel experimental
designs and statistical analyses.
The Core includes faculty members Drs.
Training Activities
Training is offered for medical
trainees, physicians, graduate and postgraduate trainees, allied health
professionals, and research scientists through the CNRC Enrichment
Program. The Enrichment Program provides
regular updates to trainees and investigators in the areas of nutrition and
obesity. A post-doctoral T32 training
grant for obesity-related research is available and funded by the NIDDK. Applications are being accepted from
qualified
For additional information:
Director: David B. Allison, PhD
Email: dallison@uab.edu
Administrator: Nancy Bell
Email: belln@uab.edu
Approved by:
David B. Allison, PhD, Director
Date:
April 7, 2008
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