Research Project
10395721
SUMMARY ? PARENT PROJECT The Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules (NPOD) at the University of Nebraska supports research on the identification of biological signals that prevent, treat, and cure obesity and related diseases. The emphasis of NPOD is on food-borne signals. Led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) in close collaboration with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, NPOD investigators have their tenure homes in 16 units crossing basic and clinical sciences, including nutrition, chemical engineering, biochemistry, gastroenterology, and public health, making NPOD a truly multidisciplinary endeavor. NPOD's long-term goal is to enhance the biomedical research infrastructure in Nebraska while combating obesity, a major health problem impacting U.S. citizens. NPOD's Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase 1 successes include over $96M in external funding awards to support research and 375 scholarly publications on the center's theme. Ten junior investigators have been mentored through two cohorts, with four of the five Cohort 1 project leaders graduating from NPOD support and establishing themselves as independent investigators within the center. The fifth project leader departed for a position in Europe prior to graduation. Cohort 2's five project leaders are in the middle of their mentoring period. The hire of four new faculty during Phase 1 enabled the center to lay the groundwork necessary to establish a critical mass of researchers: NPOD's membership has grown from 13 faculty at the center's inception to its current count of 51 investigators. During Phase 1, NPOD renovated space on the UNL campus to create a research core and installed new equipment in the core worth $738,500 to meet the evolving needs of center members. An Administrative Core provides oversight of program activities to ensure the center functions effectively. NPOD's many successes in Phase 1 have positioned it to leverage Phase 2 COBRE funding via strategic activities designed to maximize center success. Specifically, NPOD will 1) increase its critical mass of researchers by hiring an additional five junior investigators at the University of Nebraska, recruiting new junior and senior investigators to the center using pilot and seed grant funding, and continuing to develop strategic alliances with complementary programs across the state of Nebraska; 2) acquire additional equipment for the research core and formalize experimental design services offered through the administrative core; 3) enhance the center's mentoring structure and collaborative, multidisciplinary environment; and 4) implement hiring and recruitment approaches to expand integration of fundamental nutrition and obesity research with clinical, translational, and community research. By the completion of Phase 2, NPOD will be on-track for transitioning into COBRE Phase 3 and then pursuit of NPOD's vision to become an NIH-designated Nutrition and Obesity Research Center.
