Human Metabolism (Core A)

Alka kanaya, md, director

Provides an integrated infrastructure for NORC investigators who currently conduct  human research. The core consists of a number of services that provide consulting with study design, subject recruitment, and statistical analyses, conducting clinical research, and an array of specialized NORC-focused methods, instruments, and facilities for human body composition/metabolism, radiologic imaging  and biobehavioral measurements that enable several aspects of research into human nutrition, obesity and metabolism at UCSF.

Mouse metabolism (Core B)

Allison Xu, PhD, Director

Specifically geared to measure a wide variety of metabolic parameters in mice, human tissues, and cultured cells. The information gained by studying mice, which are often genetically modified through use of Core C (Genetics and Genomics) and examined in conjunction with epidemiological and behavioral studies done in humans (Core A), is essential to understand mechanisms underlying metabolic disease risk, and the potential effectiveness of nutritional and pharmacologic approaches to ameliorate obesity and its consequences.

Genetics and Genomics (Core C)

Jeremy Reiter, MD, PhD, Director

Provides access to, assistance with, and training in the use of an array of sophisticated methods and instruments for genetic and genomic assessment of molecular pathways underlying nutrition and obesity. As the Genetics and Genomics Core facilities are overseen by five administrative units at UCSF, this Core provides the infrastructure through which NORC users make use of those facilities. The Genetics and Genomics Core assists NORC users to identify and access those facilities. The NORC also supports the development of novel genetic and genomic technologies that are determined via a well-defined process to be of emerging need to the NORC research base.