Membership guidelines
Membership in the Washington University Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC) Core Center is available to Washington University faculty who have a professional interest in obesity, clinical nutrition, nutrition education or nutrition-related research.
- Full-time Washington University faculty
- PI of nutrition/obesity-related research grant
- Plan to use a NORC Core laboratory for nutrition/obesity-related research
- Full-time Washington University faculty involved in nutrition/obesity-related research or clinical activities, but does not meet all criteria for Regular membership
- May include Co-Investigator of nutrition/obesity-related research grant in which the PI is a NORC Regular Member, current NORC Pilot & Feasibility Program recipient, and/or no active extramural nutrition nutrition/obesity research funding, but is a NORC Core Director or Associate Director still conducting nutrition/obesity research with departmental or other funds.
Membership privileges
Members will be able to attend conferences, seminars and retreats sponsored by the NORC Core Center at no cost. Members will have priority use of shared resources and services offered by the NORC including:
- Animal Model Research Core: Provides expert consultation and training in the use of animal models and technical procedures, and specific services including biochemical analyses of lipids and glucose in small volume serum and tissue samples, body composition analyses, and assessment of energy metabolism and balance. New services have been added to include in vivo substrate metabolism analyses in rodents.
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Core: Provides high resolution respirometry in intact tissues, cells and isolated mitochondria, analysis of circulating biomarkers relevant to obesity (adipokines, hepatokines, myokines and cytokines), adipose tissue immune cell isolation, murine brown/beige adipose tissue isolation and characterization, starter cultures for adipogenic murine embryonic fibroblasts, and expansion of extracellular vesicle (EV) analysis.
- Clinical Science Research Core: Provides consultation in study design and selection of outcome measures, body composition analysis, protocol-specific meals for diet intervention studies, stable isotopically labeled metabolic tracer and hormone infusate preparation, clinical services to obtain muscle and adipose tissue biopsies and conduct cardiovascular testing, inpatient and outpatient sleep monitoring services, and assistance in implementing lifestyle interventions. Offers metabolic kinetic assessments using stable isotope tracers ad mathematical modeling of both tracer and non-tracer data.
- Dissemination and Implementation Science Core: Provides NORC investigators with the support needed to incorporate dissemination and implementation science into their nutrition and obesity research programs at any translational stage, thereby ultimately accelerating knowledge from scientific discovery to equitable healthcare delivery.
Current Members
| Name | Primary Department | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Abumrad, Nada A | IM – NS&OM | Molecular mechanisms of fatty acid trafficking |
| Apte, Rajendra | Ophthalmology & Visual Science | NAD biology and macrophage cholesterol metabolism and age-related macular degeneration |
| Artyomov, Maxim N | Pathology & Immunology | Metabolic regulation of immune cell activation |
| Baldridge, Megan T | IM – Infectious Diseases | Effect of intestinal commensal microbes and pathogens on host health |
| Bateman, Randall J | Neurology | CNS protein metabolism in obesity & Alzheimer’s Disease |
| Baumann-Dudenhoeffer, Aimee M. | Pediatrics | Neonatal gut microbiome development |
| Bennett, Kevin M | Radiology | Noninvasive MRI evaluation of chronic kidney disease (CKD) |
| Bernal-Mizrachi, Carlos | IM – Endocrinology & Metabolism | Vitamin D metabolism and cardiovascular disease |
| Binder, Ellen F | IM – NS&OM | Nutrition and exercise on physical frailty in older adults |
| Brestoff, Jonathan R | Pathology & Immunology | Role of cell-to-cell transfer of mitochondria in regulating metabolism |
| Brookheart, Rita T | IM – NS&OM | The role of Site-1 Protease (S1P) in regulating skeletal muscle metabolism and function |
| Brossier, Nicole M. | Pediatrics | Environmental factors (maternal exposures) affecting pediatric brain tumor penetrance |
| Brownson, Ross C | School of Social Work & Public Health | Community interventions to reduce obesity and prevent chronic disease |
| Carter, Ebony B | OBGYN | Interventions that improve maternal and infant outcomes in pregnant women with obesity or diabetes |
| Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia | Psychiatry | Technology-based (social media) investigations of eating disorders and depression |
| Colonna, Marco | Pathology & Immunology | Immune function in obesity |
| Crewe, Clair | IM – Endocrinology & Metabolism | Extracellular vesicles from adipose tissue signaling to regulation metabolism at tissue and whole body levels |
| Dantas, Gautam | Pathology & Immunology | Tunable therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiome by engineered probiotics |
| Davidson, Nicholas O | IM – Gastoenterology | Intestinal and hepatic lipoprotein metabolism |
| DeBosch, Brian J | Pediatrics – Gastroenterology | Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiomyopathy |
| Diwan, Abhinav | IM – Cardiovascular Division | Lysosome biology and the role of autophagy in obesity and cardiovascular disease |
| Evanoff, Bradley | IM – General Medical Sciences | Worksite intervention to promote healthy eating and weight control |
| Eyler, Amy A | School of Social Work & Public Health | Implementation of state and local nutrition and physical activity policies to prevent and manage diabetes |
| Finck, Brian N | IM – NS&OM | Hepatic and cardiac lipid metabolism |
| Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen E | Psychiatry | Technology-based eating and weight disorder prevention, screening and treatment |
| Gewin, Leslie | IM-Nephrology | Understanding mechanisms of tubular repair in renal injury |
| Gordon, Jeffrey I | Laboratory & Genomic Medicine | Role of gut microbiota in metabolic function and obesity |
| Gropler, Robert J | Radiology | Myocardial metabolism and mechanical function in health and disease |
| Gross, Richard W | IM – Bioorganic Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology | Molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance and diabetes |
| Guilak, Farshid | Orthopaedic Surgery | Obesity, biomechanics, and inflammation in osteoarthritis |
| Haire-Joshu, Debra | School of Social Work & Public Health | Community-based interventions for obesity and diabetes |
| Hastings, Mary K | Physical Therapy | Adverse effects of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) on muscle, bone, skin and joint structures in the lower leg |
| Henderson, Jeffrey P | IM – Infectious Diseases | Metabolic mechanisms of nutritional immunity in the urinary tract |
| Herrick, Cynthia J | IM – Endocrinology & Metabolism | Obesity and diabetes prevention and management in low socioeconomic patients |
| Hershey, Tamara G | Psychiatry | Dopamine function and obesity-related eating behavior |
| Holtzman, David M | Neurology | Apolipoprotein E and lipids in Alzheimer’s disease |
| Hughes, Jing W | IM – Endocrinology & Metabolism | Glucagon regulation by a novel brown adipose factor |
| Iannotti, Lora | School of Social Work & Public Health | Developing solutions to prevent and treat undernutrition in low-resource settings |
| Imai, Shin-ichiro | Developmental Biology | NAD metabolism and aging |
| Ippolito, Joseph | Radiology | Sex differences in cancer metabolism |
| Javaheri, Ali | IM – Cardiovascular Division | Role of lipid metabolism and autophagy in determining cardiac structure, function and remodeling after injury |
| Ju, Yo-El S | Neurology | Bi-directional relationships among sleep, metabolic function and neurodegenerative diseases |
| Kast, David JE | Cell Biology & Physiology | Regulation of lipid droplet biogenesis and catabolism |
| Klein, Samuel | IM – NS&OM | Understanding the mechanisms responsible for metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity and the therapeutic metabolic effects of weight loss |
| Kravitz, Alexxai V | Psychiatry | Investigating the mechanisms responsible for regulating hedonic eating behavior in obesity |
| Lavine, Kory J | IM – Cardiology | Macrophage functions and influence cardiac tissue repair mechanisms |
| Liu, Yongjian | Radiology | Targeted molecular probes for atherosclerosis imaging and therapy |
| Lodhi, Irfan J | IM – Endocrinology & Metabolism | Adipocyte biology and metabolism |
| Lowe, Mark E. | Pediatrics | Role of lipases in dietary fat digestion; Role of genetic variants in the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis and complications including pancreatic exocrine insufficiency |
| Lucey, Brendan P | Neurology | The association between amyloid-β kinetics, age, amyloid levels, and the amyloid-β day/night pattern |
| Meyer, Gretchen A | Physical Therapy | Muscle-fat signaling in muscle degeneration and regeneration |
| Milbrandt, Jeffrey D | Pathology & Immunology | Nutrition and axonal degeneration/regeneration |
| Millman, Jeffrey R | IM – Endocrinology & Metabolism | Human stem cell differentiation to insulin-producing β cells for diabetes cell replacement therapy |
| Mittendorfer, Bettina | IM – NS&OM | Diet and metabolic function and muscle protein metabolism in aging |
| Musiek, Erik S | Neurology | Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration |
| Nichols, Colin G | Cell Biology & Physiology | Electrical control of insulin secretion |
| Nicol, Ginger E | Psychiatry | Prevention and treatment of obesity in people with mental health disorders |
| Norris, Aaron | Anesthesiology | CNS regulation of energy balance with emphasis on sleep, stress, and opioid system signaling |
| Njoku, Dolores | Anesthesiology | Pathophysiology of immune-mediated liver injury resulting in inflammation, fatty liver or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. |
| Pagliarini, David J | Cell Biology & Physiology | Composition, function and regulation of the mitochondrial proteome and its relationship to human disease |
| Park, Yikyung | Surgery | Modifiable lifestyle factors in relation to health outcomes |
| Patti, Gary J | Chemistry | A comprehensive platform for high-throughput metabolome profiling |
| Peterson, Linda R | IM – Cardiology | Obesity and cardiovascular risk |
| Peterson, Lindsay L | IM – Medical Oncology | The link between advanced glycation end products and breast cancer |
| Peterson, Timothy R | IM – Bone & Mineral Diseases | Novel insulin-sensitizing NASH/diabetes drugs |
| Pincus, Zachary S | Genetics | Mechanisms determining inter-individual differences in lifespan, and differences in individual health during aging using model organism C. elegans |
| Province, Michael A | Genetics | Complex trait human gene discovery and validation |
| Racette, Susan B | Physical Therapy | Diet and exercise interventions for obesity and disease prevention |
| Rajagopal, Rithwick | Ophthalmology & Visual Science | Pathogenic mechanisms in diabetic retinopathy and neuronal damage in diabetes |
| Randolph, Gwendalyn J | Pathology & Immunology | Lymphatic system in obesity and cardiometabolic disease |
| Razani, Babak | IM – Cardiology | Role of macrophage lysosomal biogenesis in atherosclerosis and cardiac dysfunction of obesity |
| Sah, Rajan | IM – Cardiovascular Division | Ion channel SWELL1, an important regulator of adipocyte function and metabolism |
| Samovski, Dmitri | IM – NS&OM | Endosomal pathway in metabolic targeting of fatty acids |
| Schechtman, Kenneth B | IM – Biostatistics | Effectiveness of family-based weight loss treatment implemented in primary care |
| Schilling, Joel D | IM – Cardiology | Macrophage metabolism and inflammation in metabolic disease |
| Semenkovich, Clay F | IM -Endocrinology & Metabolism | Molecular mechanisms responsible for the pathophysiology of obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis |
| Shaw, Paul J | Neuroscience | Functional analysis of sleep promoting neurons in health and disease |
| Shen, Hua | Orthopaedic Surgery | The roles of adipose-derived stem cell extracellular vesicles in regulating tendon inflammation and metabolism |
| Silva, Matthew J | Orthopedic Surgery | Mechanobiology of bone |
| Stitziel, Nathan O | IM – Cardiology | Contribution of genetic variations in lipoprotein metabolism to cardiometabolic disease |
| Tabak, Rachel G | Prevention Research Center | Dissemination and implementation of lifestyle interventions to reduce obesity and diabetes |
| Teitelbaum, Steven L | Pathology & Immunology | Effect of nutrition and inflammation on bone metabolism |
| Thompson, Michael D | Pediatrics -Endocrinology & Diabetes | Impact of maternal obesity on offspring liver disease and metabolic health |
| Urano, Fumihiko | IM – Endocrinology & Metabolism | Endoplasmic reticulum stress and metabolic function |
| Van Tine, Brian | IM – Medical Oncology | Metabolism in sarcomas |
| Veis, Deborah | IM – Bone & Mineral Diseases | Role of mitochondrial dynamics in bone homeostasis |
| Vlassenko, Andrei G | Radiology | Aerobic glycolysis in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease |
| Von Morze, Cornelius J | Radiology | Novel hyperpolarized 13C molecular imaging techniques for differentiating NAFLD and NASH |
| Warner, Brad W | Surgery | Mechanisms involved in intestinal adaption after massive resection |
| Wilfley, Denise E | Psychiatry | Causes, prevention and treatment of obesity and eating disorders |
| Woodard, Pamela K | Radiology | Use of PET tracers to assess cardiovascular structure and function in people |
| Zayed, Mohamed A | Surgery | Influences of diabetes on peripheral arterial disease |
IM = Internal Medicine
NS&OM = Nutritional Science and Obesity Medicine
| Name | Primary Department | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Alpers, David H | IM – Gastroenterology | Synthesis, secretion and transcytotic movement of intestinal proteins |
| Cabassa, Leopoldo J | Social Work | Physical and mental health disparities among racial/ethnic minorities with severe mental illness |
| Chen, Y. Maggie | Nephrology | Autophagy and metabolism in organelles; various kidney diseases including focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) |
| Colditz, Graham A | Surgery | Associations between obesity and cancer causes, prevention and survival |
| Davila-Roman, Victor G | IM – Cardiovascular | Cardiovascular imaging, hypertension and heart failure |
| De Las Fuentes, Lisa | IM – Cardiovascular | Genetic variants in myocardial metabolism and inflammation |
| Eagon, Christopher J | Surgery | Surgical treatment of obesity |
| Eisenstein, Sarah A | Psychiatry | Dopamine signaling and reward-related behavior using PET neuroimaging in obesity and schizophrenia |
| Farabi, Sarah S | IM – NS&OM | Biobehavioral mechanisms related to obesity |
| Frolova, Antonina | OBGYN | Effects of maternal obesity and dyslipidemia on myometrial contractility, labor and obstetric outcomes |
| Goyal, Manu S | Radiology | Imaging, genomic and metabolomic investigations in the human brain |
| Jacome-Sosa, Miriam M | IM – NS&OM | Novel therapeutic approaches for the management of obesity, type 2 diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases |
| Lawson, Heather | Genetics | How diet modifies genetic and epigenetic effects in metabolically normal and abnormal obese people |
| Ley, Timothy J | IM – Bone Marrow Transplant | Using mouse models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to establish key principles of AML pathogenesis |
| Okunade, Adewole L | IM – NS&OM | Establishing new methods for in vivo and in vitro metabolic research |
| Palanisamy, Arvind | Anesthesiology | Childhood obesity after labor induction with Oxytocin |
| Parra Perez, D | Prevention Research Center | Chronic disease prevention as related to physical activity, nutrition and obesity |
| Patterson, Bruce W | IM – NS&OM | Stable isotope tracer methodology in the study of protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism in humans |
| Powers Carson, Jennifer L | IM – Endocrinology & Metabolism | Biomarkers for diabetes progression and complication |
| Raghuraman, Nandini | OBGYN | Intrauterine resuscitation and intrapartum maternal and fetal physiology |
| Reeds, Dominic N | IM – NS&OM | Metabolic abnormalities in patients with HIV infection and interventions that improve insulin sensitivity |
| Reeds, Susan R | IM – Weight Management | Obesity as a chronic illness |
| Schwarz, Julie K | Radiation Oncology | Association of genomic mutations in PIK3CA and PTEN with cervical cancer treatment response and glucose uptake |
| Shoghi, Kooresh I | Radiology | Biology of disease mechanisms, engineering and imaging sciences and informatics |
| Smith, Gordon I | IM – NS&OM | Use of stable isotope methods to study human protein and fat metabolism in vivo |
| Stein, Richard I | IM – NS&OM | Lifestyle change treatments for obesity and eating disorders |
IM = Internal Medicine
NS&OM = Nutritional Science and Obesity Medicine
Please acknowledge the Washington University NORC, Nutrition Obesity Research Center, in your publications by: “Supported by NIH grant P30 DK056341 (Nutrition Obesity Research Center).”