Precision Nutrition Core

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Project Summary – Precision Nutrition Core The Precision Nutrition Core was established in 2016 as a pilot core, offering nutrigenomics services only. While the role of genetics in precision nutrition has been widely accepted, the field has only begun to reach its potential, and relatively few examples of nutrient-gene interactions have reached consensus. Furthermore, the translation of these findings has not been fulfilled, and continued robust investigations, conducted by researchers with necessary expertise, are needed. A central tenet in the design of the Core is that we can best meet the demands of UNC NORC members by working closely with substantive experts to expand their research into studies of variability in nutritional response. Since its inception, the Core’s user base has increased consistently, from 18 users in 2016 to 42 users in 2019, as have user inquiries regarding services related to other aspects of precision nutrition—in particular, the gut microbiome. As such, the Core recruited Dr. Carroll to implement and oversee nutrition- and obesity-focused microbiome services, a previously unmet need at UNC. The gut microbiome is intimately connected to metabolic heterogeneity through its effects on energy harvest, metabolic signaling, and the production of metabolites of dietary components. This Core is one of only two cores across the national NORC system to provide nutrigenomics services. The goal of the Precision Nutrition Core is to provide a suite of precision nutrition services that enable investigators to integrate nutrigenomics and microbiome analysis into nutrition and obesity research to advance our understanding of how individual genetics and gut microbial communities influence individual variability related to nutritional exposures and adiposity. The Core provides expertise and services in two areas: 1) Nutrigenomics and 2) Microbiome Analysis. The Core offers laboratory services for assessing individual variation – including DNA and RNA extraction from blood, saliva, and fecal samples and caloric content determination of fecal samples and fecal metabolite assessment – as well as customized, cutting-edge research tools – including whole genome, exome, and targeted gene sequencing; RNA-sequencing; microbiota characterization, including 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomics; targeted genotyping using PCR-based assays; array- based gene expression profiling; and bisulfide sequencing for methylation patterns in humans and mouse models. Leveraging the resources available at the UNC NORC, the Core fills a critical gap in nutrition and obesity research at UNC by providing investigators with the expertise and resources to investigate the role of host genetic and gut microbiome factors in biological responses to nutritional exposure. This Core is located at both the Chapel Hill and the UNC Nutrition Research Institute campuses to serve investigators at both locations.