Tulane COBRE for Clinical and Translational Research in Cardiometabolic Diseases

Cardiometabolic diseases are the leading cause of death in the US. During COBRE Phase 1, we have established the Tulane University Translational Science Institute (TUTSI), developed a critical mass of clinical and translational researchers, and increased scientific productivity in cardiometabolic diseases at Tulane University. Seven of 12 COBRE Research Project Leaders (RPLs) and Pilot Project Leaders (PPLs) have been funded for one or more peer-reviewed research projects from NIH and NSF. COBRE investigators have published 310 peer-reviewed scientific articles (140 from RPLs and PPLs and 170 from other COBRE investigators and collaborators) supported by the COBRE Phase 1 grant (GM109036). The overall objective of this COBRE Phase 2 application is to further develop and strengthen the clinical and translational research infrastructure at Tulane University and to continuously expand and support a critical mass of investigators with expertise in clinical and translational research in cardiometabolic diseases. The specific aims of this COBRE Phase 2 application are: 1) to enhance and sustain TUTSI, a university-wide thematic multidisciplinary Center for clinical and translational research on cardiometabolic diseases that motivates and facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration among basic, clinical, and population scientists; 2) to develop and nurture the next generation of investigators in clinical and translational science focused on cardiometabolic diseases; 3) to achieve the aims of the innovative Research Projects proposed by our four RPLs, including to elucidate metabolomic mechanisms of apolipoprotein L1 risk alleles associated with kidney disease progression, to identify biomarkers of type 2 diabetes in adipose tissue-derived extracellular vesicles, to investigate the interrelations among amylase gene copy number variants, carbohydrate intake, and incident hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes, and to test the intake-response effect of potassium supplementation on blood pressure in a randomized controlled trial; and 4) to establish and strengthen a Clinical Research and Community Engagement Core, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, and Molecular Detection and Diagnostics Core and expand innovative technical and methodologic support to RPLs, PPLs, other COBRE investigators, and collaborators at Tulane University. Our COBRE program is unique because it addresses a significant public health problem in the US and focuses on novel clinical and translational research. If funded, this COBRE Phase 2 program will play a central role in expanding and strengthening clinical and translational research infrastructure and in recruiting, nurturing, and advancing a cadre of well-trained interdisciplinary investigators in cardiometabolic disease research. The COBRE investigators will generate and apply new knowledge to patient care and disease prevention and ultimately contribute to reducing the burden of cardiometabolic diseases and improving the health of individuals and the public in Louisiana and beyond.