Nutrition, Exercise and phenotype Testing Core

Abstract/Summary – NExT Core The overall objective of the Nutrition, Exercise and phenotype Testing (NExT) core of MNORC is to expand and enhance the research capabilities of investigators performing clinical and translational studies related to nutrition, physical activity/exercise, energy balance, obesity, and/or obesity-related disorders in humans. The NExT core directly supports investigators seeking to conduct experimental, observational, and intervention studies in controlled environments, as well as in free-living settings. The NExT core can generate comprehensive assessments of health behaviors (e.g. diet, physical activity, sleep) and energy expenditure to elucidate factors that may underlie the development of obesity and obesity-related diseases/disorders. These approaches also make it possible to design and execute experiments that optimize prevention and treatment strategies for obesity and obesity-related diseases. The core also conducts well-controlled and standardized phenotypic testing (e.g., body composition (DEXA), aerobic fitness (VO2max), insulin sensitivity (insulin clamps)). Our comprehensive testing capabilities, paired with the NExT core’s ability to obtain samples from multiple compartments and tissues (i.e., blood, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue biopsies), along with our enhanced statistical support, allows for the novel integration of complex bio-behavioral outcomes with biological data to provide a comprehensive evaluation of an individual’s health in the context of lifestyle behaviors. The specific aims of the NExT core are to: 1. Consult on clinical and population-based studies regarding appropriate study design, assessment, testing and/or intervention approaches for studies related to nutrition, physical activity/exercise and obesity, 2. Provide state-of-the-art behavior tracking tools and techniques for researchers to assess: dietary intake, physical activity, sleep, and free-living energy expenditure, 3. Conduct a wide array of cardio-metabolic and nutritional phenotype testing of human subjects, 4. Provide high-level expertise, infrastructure, and personnel to conduct rigorous dietary and physical activity/ exercise training intervention studies, and 5. Provide advanced statistical support to facilitate data management and reduction of behavioral and molecular phenotyping data with high-dimensional data [metabolomics, epigenetics, genetics] to enable insights into mechanisms underlying individual variability in both observational and intervention studies.