The Metabolic Physiology Shared Resource (MPSR) is developed as an institutional core that will allow DRTC investigators to study metabolism using a range of animal models and human subjects. MPSR components include laboratories for study of mice, rats, canines, and human subjects. This resource is shared with two other centers. They are the Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center (MMPC) and General Clinical Research Center (GCRC). The MMPC provides comprehensive services for study of mice. The GCRC provides support for human studies in such areas as nutritional services, nursing, physical resources, biostatistics, and bioinformatics. The MMPC and GCRC both have NIH support independent of the DRTC. The DRTC will support laboratories for rat and canine experimentation and for the study of energy balance and nutrition in human subjects. The Rat Laboratory is an expansion of the DRTC efforts to centralize and develop techniques for studying in vivo metabolism (e.g. energy balance, insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion) in the conscious, unrestrained rat. While distinct from the MMPC, this component greatly benefits from and synergizes with the MMPC. The Canine Laboratory is a continuation of DRTC support of our novel approach to study in vivo metabolism (e.g. liver substrate balance, hormone action) using the conscious dog. The Human Energy Balance Laboratory is an essential complement of existing services available to DRTC investigators by way of the GCRC. It will support services for assessment of energy expenditure, body composition, and physical activity. The MPSR is directed by faculty (D. Wasserman, S. Davis) experienced in the range of experimental models supported by the resource and provides specialized technical assistance to investigators using the resource. The MPSR is structured to facilitate translational studies from genetically modified mice to humans and to allow investigators working in human subjects to explore more basic mechanisms in animal models. The MPSR represents the most efficient and scientifically sound approach to utilizing institutional resources that have common goals (i.e. study of metabolism in the whole organism). The MPSR effectively pools expertise and in some cases physical resources, allowing DRTC investigators the ability to study metabolism in scope that is unprecedented.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 1487 publications
