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.

Regular Membership Requirements
  • Full-time Washington University faculty
  • PI of nutrition/obesity-related research grant
  • Plan to use a NORC Core laboratory for nutrition/obesity-related research
Associate Membership Requirements
  • 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

Regular NORC Members
NamePrimary DepartmentResearch Focus
Abumrad, Nada AIM – NS&OMMolecular mechanisms of fatty acid trafficking
Apte, RajendraOphthalmology & Visual ScienceNAD biology and macrophage cholesterol metabolism and age-related macular degeneration
Artyomov, Maxim NPathology & ImmunologyMetabolic regulation of immune cell activation
Baldridge, Megan TIM – Infectious DiseasesEffect of intestinal commensal microbes and pathogens on host health
Bateman, Randall JNeurologyCNS protein metabolism in obesity & Alzheimer’s Disease
Baumann-Dudenhoeffer, Aimee M.PediatricsNeonatal gut microbiome development
Bennett, Kevin MRadiologyNoninvasive MRI evaluation of chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Bernal-Mizrachi, CarlosIM – Endocrinology & MetabolismVitamin D metabolism and cardiovascular disease
Binder, Ellen FIM – NS&OMNutrition and exercise on physical frailty in older adults
Brestoff, Jonathan RPathology & ImmunologyRole of cell-to-cell transfer of mitochondria in regulating metabolism
Brookheart, Rita TIM – NS&OMThe role of Site-1 Protease (S1P) in regulating skeletal muscle metabolism and function
Brossier, Nicole M.PediatricsEnvironmental factors (maternal exposures) affecting pediatric brain tumor penetrance
Brownson, Ross CSchool of Social Work & Public HealthCommunity interventions to reduce obesity and prevent chronic disease
Carter, Ebony BOBGYNInterventions that improve maternal and infant outcomes in pregnant women with obesity or diabetes
Cavazos-Rehg, PatriciaPsychiatryTechnology-based (social media) investigations of eating disorders and depression
Colonna, MarcoPathology & ImmunologyImmune function in obesity
Crewe, ClairIM – Endocrinology & MetabolismExtracellular vesicles from adipose tissue signaling to regulation metabolism at tissue and whole body levels
Dantas, GautamPathology & ImmunologyTunable therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiome by engineered probiotics
Davidson, Nicholas OIM – GastoenterologyIntestinal and hepatic lipoprotein metabolism
DeBosch, Brian JPediatrics – GastroenterologyNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiomyopathy
Diwan, AbhinavIM – Cardiovascular DivisionLysosome biology and the role of autophagy in obesity and cardiovascular disease
Evanoff, BradleyIM – General Medical SciencesWorksite intervention to promote healthy eating and weight control
Eyler, Amy ASchool of Social Work & Public HealthImplementation of state and local nutrition and physical activity policies to prevent and manage diabetes
Finck, Brian NIM – NS&OMHepatic and cardiac lipid metabolism
Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen EPsychiatryTechnology-based eating and weight disorder prevention, screening and treatment
Gewin, LeslieIM-NephrologyUnderstanding mechanisms of tubular repair in renal injury
Gordon, Jeffrey ILaboratory & Genomic MedicineRole of gut microbiota in metabolic function and obesity
Gropler, Robert JRadiologyMyocardial metabolism and mechanical function in health and disease
Gross, Richard WIM – Bioorganic Chemistry & Molecular PharmacologyMolecular mechanisms of insulin resistance and diabetes
Guilak, FarshidOrthopaedic SurgeryObesity, biomechanics, and inflammation in osteoarthritis
Haire-Joshu, DebraSchool of Social Work & Public HealthCommunity-based interventions for obesity and diabetes
Hastings, Mary KPhysical TherapyAdverse effects of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) on muscle, bone, skin and joint structures in the lower leg
Henderson, Jeffrey PIM – Infectious DiseasesMetabolic mechanisms of nutritional immunity in the urinary tract
Herrick, Cynthia JIM – Endocrinology & MetabolismObesity and diabetes prevention and management in low socioeconomic patients
Hershey, Tamara GPsychiatryDopamine function and obesity-related eating behavior
Holtzman, David MNeurologyApolipoprotein E and lipids in Alzheimer’s disease
Hughes, Jing WIM – Endocrinology & MetabolismGlucagon regulation by a novel brown adipose factor
Iannotti, LoraSchool of Social Work & Public HealthDeveloping solutions to prevent and treat undernutrition in low-resource settings
Imai, Shin-ichiroDevelopmental BiologyNAD metabolism and aging
Ippolito, JosephRadiologySex differences in cancer metabolism
Javaheri, AliIM – Cardiovascular DivisionRole of lipid metabolism and autophagy in determining cardiac structure, function and remodeling after injury
Ju, Yo-El SNeurologyBi-directional relationships among sleep, metabolic function and neurodegenerative diseases
Kast, David JECell Biology & PhysiologyRegulation of lipid droplet biogenesis and catabolism
Klein, SamuelIM – NS&OMUnderstanding the mechanisms responsible for metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity and the therapeutic metabolic effects of weight loss
Kravitz, Alexxai VPsychiatryInvestigating the mechanisms responsible for regulating hedonic eating behavior in obesity
Lavine, Kory JIM – CardiologyMacrophage functions and influence cardiac tissue repair mechanisms
Liu, YongjianRadiologyTargeted molecular probes for atherosclerosis imaging and therapy
Lodhi, Irfan JIM – Endocrinology & MetabolismAdipocyte biology and metabolism
Lowe, Mark E.PediatricsRole of lipases in dietary fat digestion; Role of genetic variants in the pathogenesis of chronic pancreatitis and complications including pancreatic exocrine insufficiency
Lucey, Brendan PNeurologyThe association between amyloid-β kinetics, age, amyloid levels, and the amyloid-β day/night pattern
Meyer, Gretchen APhysical TherapyMuscle-fat signaling in muscle degeneration and regeneration
Milbrandt, Jeffrey DPathology & ImmunologyNutrition and axonal degeneration/regeneration
Millman, Jeffrey RIM – Endocrinology & MetabolismHuman stem cell differentiation to insulin-producing β cells for diabetes cell replacement therapy
Mittendorfer, BettinaIM – NS&OMDiet and metabolic function and muscle protein metabolism in aging
Musiek, Erik SNeurologyCellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration
Nichols, Colin GCell Biology & PhysiologyElectrical control of insulin secretion
Nicol, Ginger EPsychiatryPrevention and treatment of obesity in people with mental health disorders
Norris, AaronAnesthesiologyCNS regulation of energy balance with emphasis on sleep, stress, and opioid system signaling
Njoku, DoloresAnesthesiologyPathophysiology of immune-mediated liver injury resulting in inflammation, fatty liver or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Pagliarini, David JCell Biology & PhysiologyComposition, function and regulation of the mitochondrial proteome and its relationship to human disease
Park, YikyungSurgeryModifiable lifestyle factors in relation to health outcomes
Patti, Gary JChemistryA comprehensive platform for high-throughput metabolome profiling
Peterson, Linda RIM – CardiologyObesity and cardiovascular risk
Peterson, Lindsay LIM – Medical OncologyThe link between advanced glycation end products and breast cancer
Peterson, Timothy RIM – Bone & Mineral DiseasesNovel insulin-sensitizing NASH/diabetes drugs
Pincus, Zachary SGeneticsMechanisms determining inter-individual differences in lifespan, and differences in individual health during aging using model organism C. elegans
Province, Michael AGeneticsComplex trait human gene discovery and validation
Racette, Susan BPhysical TherapyDiet and exercise interventions for obesity and disease prevention
Rajagopal, RithwickOphthalmology & Visual SciencePathogenic mechanisms in diabetic retinopathy and neuronal damage in diabetes
Randolph, Gwendalyn JPathology & ImmunologyLymphatic system in obesity and cardiometabolic disease
Razani, BabakIM – CardiologyRole of macrophage lysosomal biogenesis in atherosclerosis and cardiac dysfunction of obesity
Sah, RajanIM – Cardiovascular DivisionIon channel SWELL1, an important regulator of adipocyte function and metabolism
Samovski, DmitriIM – NS&OMEndosomal pathway in metabolic targeting of fatty acids
Schechtman, Kenneth BIM – BiostatisticsEffectiveness of family-based weight loss treatment implemented in primary care
Schilling, Joel DIM – CardiologyMacrophage metabolism and inflammation in metabolic disease
Semenkovich, Clay FIM -Endocrinology & MetabolismMolecular mechanisms responsible for the pathophysiology of obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis
Shaw, Paul JNeuroscienceFunctional analysis of sleep promoting neurons in health and disease
Shen, HuaOrthopaedic SurgeryThe roles of adipose-derived stem cell extracellular vesicles in regulating tendon inflammation and metabolism
Silva, Matthew JOrthopedic SurgeryMechanobiology of bone
Stitziel, Nathan OIM – CardiologyContribution of genetic variations in lipoprotein metabolism to cardiometabolic disease
Tabak, Rachel GPrevention Research CenterDissemination and implementation of lifestyle interventions to reduce obesity and diabetes
Teitelbaum, Steven LPathology & ImmunologyEffect of nutrition and inflammation on bone metabolism
Thompson, Michael DPediatrics -Endocrinology & DiabetesImpact of maternal obesity on offspring liver disease and metabolic health
Urano, FumihikoIM – Endocrinology & MetabolismEndoplasmic reticulum stress and metabolic function
Van Tine, BrianIM – Medical OncologyMetabolism in sarcomas
Veis, DeborahIM – Bone & Mineral DiseasesRole of mitochondrial dynamics in bone homeostasis
Vlassenko, Andrei GRadiologyAerobic glycolysis in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease
Von Morze, Cornelius JRadiologyNovel hyperpolarized 13C molecular imaging techniques for differentiating NAFLD and NASH
Warner, Brad WSurgeryMechanisms involved in intestinal adaption after massive resection
Wilfley, Denise EPsychiatryCauses, prevention and treatment of obesity and eating disorders
Woodard, Pamela KRadiologyUse of PET tracers to assess cardiovascular structure and function in people
Zayed, Mohamed ASurgeryInfluences of diabetes on peripheral arterial disease

IM = Internal Medicine
NS&OM = Nutritional Science and Obesity Medicine

Associate NORC Members
NamePrimary DepartmentResearch Focus
Alpers, David HIM – GastroenterologySynthesis, secretion and transcytotic movement of intestinal proteins
Cabassa, Leopoldo JSocial WorkPhysical and mental health disparities among racial/ethnic minorities with severe mental illness
Chen, Y. MaggieNephrologyAutophagy and metabolism in organelles; various kidney diseases including focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
Colditz, Graham ASurgeryAssociations between obesity and cancer causes, prevention and survival
Davila-Roman, Victor GIM – CardiovascularCardiovascular imaging, hypertension and heart failure
De Las Fuentes, LisaIM – CardiovascularGenetic variants in myocardial metabolism and inflammation
Eagon, Christopher JSurgerySurgical treatment of obesity
Eisenstein, Sarah APsychiatryDopamine signaling and reward-related behavior using PET neuroimaging in obesity and schizophrenia
Farabi, Sarah SIM – NS&OMBiobehavioral mechanisms related to obesity
Frolova, AntoninaOBGYNEffects of maternal obesity and dyslipidemia on myometrial contractility, labor and obstetric outcomes
Goyal, Manu SRadiologyImaging, genomic and metabolomic investigations in the human brain
Jacome-Sosa, Miriam MIM – NS&OMNovel therapeutic approaches for the management of obesity, type 2 diabetes and gastrointestinal diseases
Lawson, HeatherGeneticsHow diet modifies genetic and epigenetic effects in metabolically normal and abnormal obese people
Ley, Timothy JIM – Bone Marrow TransplantUsing mouse models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) to establish key principles of AML pathogenesis
Okunade, Adewole LIM – NS&OMEstablishing new methods for in vivo and in vitro metabolic research
Palanisamy, ArvindAnesthesiologyChildhood obesity after labor induction with Oxytocin
Parra Perez, DPrevention Research CenterChronic disease prevention as related to physical activity, nutrition and obesity
Patterson, Bruce WIM – NS&OMStable isotope tracer methodology in the study of protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism in humans
Powers Carson, Jennifer LIM – Endocrinology & MetabolismBiomarkers for diabetes progression and complication
Raghuraman, NandiniOBGYNIntrauterine resuscitation and intrapartum maternal and fetal physiology
Reeds, Dominic NIM – NS&OMMetabolic abnormalities in patients with HIV infection and interventions that improve insulin sensitivity
Reeds, Susan RIM – Weight ManagementObesity as a chronic illness
Schwarz, Julie KRadiation OncologyAssociation of genomic mutations in PIK3CA and PTEN with cervical cancer treatment response and glucose uptake
Shoghi, Kooresh IRadiologyBiology of disease mechanisms, engineering and imaging sciences and informatics
Smith, Gordon IIM – NS&OMUse of stable isotope methods to study human protein and fat metabolism in vivo
Stein, Richard IIM – NS&OMLifestyle 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).”