Print FriendlyMetabolism
The prevalence of adult obesity has increased an alarming 75 percent since 1980, rendering one-third of all men and women obese in the United States. Increasing body weight is associated with a slew of metabolic disorders, including glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, all of which are well-established risk factors for cardiovascular disease and Type II diabetes.
The goal at the Salk Institute is to develop new approaches to understanding how metabolism is affected by food intake, age and gender. Scientists also want to identify new targets for pharmacological interventions with the potential to control weight gain, and to diminish diabetic and cardiovascular complications of the metabolic syndrome.
The Metabolism Initiative Will:
- Provide insight into the physiologic processes that maintain the energy balance under normal conditions and in pathologic states.
- Uncover the complex relationship between central brain signals and the peripheral tissues that control glucose and fat metabolism, such as the pancreas, liver, muscle, and fat.
- Result in an understanding of the varied and complex interconnections of metabolic pathways and the identification of key regulatory nodes.
- Illuminate the role of inflammation in the development of insulin resistance through the study of innate immunity, particularly in peripheral tissues such as fat and liver.
- Lead to new targets for the development of therapeutics -- improving conditions such as obesity and insulin resistance, which increase the risk of other diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Your Gifts to the Metabolism Initiative Support:
- Recruitment and set-up package for one additional faculty member in the field of metabolism and two research assistants.
- Renovation of existing laboratory space to accommodate the new faculty member and students.
- Purchase new instrumentation. Necessary tools for monitoring changes in nutrient balance will include in vivo NMR spectrometry and a mass spectrometer for the analysis of nutrient flux and characterization of circulating metabolites.
For information on how to contribute to this initiative, contact:
Rebecca Newman
Vice President, Development and Communications
858-453-4100 x1454
e-mail: rnewman@salk.edu.