Human phenotype (Core A)

Human Phenotyping Core PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Studies of the molecular physiology and genetics of body weight regulation are increasingly dependent upon highly sensitive and accurate measurements of energy expenditure, body composition, adipose tissue biology, ingestive behaviors and brain imaging, as are the analyses of prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. Hence, the current Human Phenotyping Core (HPC) and affiliated laboratories are critical resources in the NYNORC’s (and NIH’s) commitment to advance understanding of the pathogenesis of obesity. The combined HPC resources are unique to the NYNORC, and the laboratories attract students and visiting scientists at all levels from around the world. The use of the HPC laboratory by Members/Users continues to grow. The HPC has provided consultative advice to investigators including the long-term behavioral lifestyle intervention clinical trials in obesity/type 2 diabetes (X. Pi-Sunyer) on phenotypes to be measured and the interpretation of these tests, including long-term longitudinal multi-center trials. The HPC has a large training function and is, therefore, highly responsive to the needs of Members and enables greater productivity at lower cost for them. The Research Base includes a large group of federally funded investigators who require the methodologies offered in the HPC to conduct their studies. The facilities including a new 3-whole room calorimeter suite, and services provided by this Core are unique and not available commercially or to the individual Core users by virtue of equipment costs and necessary technical/analytic expertise. During the current cycle, 32 member investigators - with support from 31 NIH, 2 AHA, 8 training/K grants, and 2 NYNORC Pilot & Feasibility awards - submitted >8000 Core service requests, which were met, contributing to 117 peer-reviewed publications and the generation of 21 new or renewed grants. The overall objective of the HPC is to enhance and expand the research capabilities of investigators performing clinical and translational studies in humans related to obesity and eating disorders and their related physiological/medical phenotypes. The Specific Aims of the HPC are to: 1) Make available to Center members specialized measurements in human subjects of body composition, energy expenditure, imaging & analysis, and adipose tissue structure and function; 2) Provide investigators with consultation/advice in determining which methods are best suited to their needs based on the scientific questions in the context of budgetary constraints; 3) Provide a setting in which instruction in these technologies and strategies can be provided to students, postdoctoral research fellows, and interested scientists; 4) Sponsor and participate in the conduct of periodic seminars on "state-of-the-art" body composition, energy expenditure, sleep physiology, imaging analysis, adipose tissue analysis, with ultimate emphasis on those aspects of greatest relevance to the problem of human obesity; 5) Provide reduced-cost access to these technologies to NYNORC Pilot and Feasibility recipients and post-doctoral fellows; 6) Advance/develop non-invasive, in-vivo methodology for body composition and energy expenditure measurements in infants, children, and adults.