Metabolic Basis of Disease - Phase 2

Project Summary: The overall goal of this Phase 2 COBRE is to facilitate the growth of young intellectual talent and strengthen and enhance the scientific infrastructure that will promote biomedical research discoveries that will enhance our understanding of the metabolic aspects of different diseases. Specifically, we have identified three research project leaders (RPLs) with scientific interests in different, but complementary aspects of disease research. Each Research Project focuses on the metabolic aspect of a disease (HFpEF/heart failure with preserved ejection fractions, HCC/hepatocellular carcinoma, and undernutrition and iron metabolism). Despite the diversity in tissues and diseases of interest, each project strongly fits into Pennington Biomedical’s general mission, to discover the triggers of chronic diseases through innovative research that improves human health across the lifespan. In all aspects of our Phase 2 center, we are committed to prioritizing the promotion of diverse perspectives. Within this Metabolic Basis of Disease (MBD) COBRE proposal, we established two scientific cores in Phase 1. The Preclinical Research Core brings together strengths from our Comparative Biology Core, Animal Models and Behavior Core, and Genetically Engineered Models Core. The Molecular Mechanisms core integrates aspects of our Genomic Cores and Cell Biology Bioimaging Core and provides mentoring and technical support for the RPLs and PBRC faculty. In Phase 2, this core will have a stronger emphasis on bioinformatics and new leadership. We will also establish a new Pilot and Feasibility Program to identify new RPLs and promote metabolic basis of disease research.