Phone: (205) 934-4088 
E-mail: tnagy@uab.edu

Research/Clinical Interest Description: Our research is focused on three areas: (1) the regulation of body weight, (2) the development and validation of methods for phenotyping small animals, and (3) the link among body fat, caloric restriction and cancer. Currently, our studies are focused on animal models to better understand the mechanisms regulating energy expenditure and thus body weight. These studies include antipsychotic drug-induced weight gain, the role of uncoupling proteins, and the role of dairy in weight loss and bone health. During our studies on the regulation of energy expenditure using animal models, we realized the need to improve the measurement of body composition in small animals, especially in vivo methods. Thus, we have adapted medical imaging techniques, including human peripheral dual-energy X-ray absorptiometers (DXA), peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), and micro-computed tomography, for use with mice; these techniques will serve as important tools for bone and obesity researchers using animal models in their research. The final area of research interest is the link among body fat, caloric restriction, and cancer. We have developed a mouse model in which energy intake can be held constant while body fat is modified by varying energy expenditure using ambient temperature. This line of research will determine the independent effects of body fat on cancer.