Biologic Mechanisms and Functional Genomics

了解肥胖背后复杂的分子和细胞机制是至关重要的。通过 生物机制和功能基因组学核心（BMFG），中大西洋NORC 研究人员对阐明根本原因的机制的研究作出了重大贡献， 治疗营养和肥胖相关疾病。在过去的10年里，BMFG核心已经发展到 整合技术和基因组发现方面的进步，以更好地定位核心， 营养和肥胖研究。这种变化反映在我们重新指定的核心从脂肪 生物学和基本机制核心（ABBM）到BMFG。虽然NORC调查员需要专业人员 脂肪组织表征的方法仍然很高，基因组发现的加速步伐， 增加了对机制研究的需求，这些研究旨在提供对新基因功能的快速询问， 多个物种的细胞、组织和有机体的水平。为了满足日益增长的需求，我们 通过整合技术来扩大能力范围，以提供相关的人类细胞模型， 成本和时间效益的生物系统，斑马鱼，以评估遗传变异的影响。的目标 BMFG核心是帮助研究人员理解生物学、细胞和分子机制， 解决营养和肥胖相关问题。（a）培训和研究支助， NORC研究人员过渡到营养和肥胖领域，或需要在 核心服务的应用; B）扩大银行的资源，并加强表型表征， 与临床翻译合作，从活检和手术中获得的人类细胞和组织 研究核心; c）开发生物系统，以研究新确定的候选人的功能方面 与分子遗传学和营养基因组学核心合作; d）扩大合作， 与盖辛格健康系统（GHS）肥胖研究所和韦斯中心共享资源， 研究和其他NORC中心。

An understanding of the complex molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying obesity is critical. Through efforts fostered by the Biological Mechanisms and Functional Genomics Core (BMFG), Mid-Atlantic NORC investigators have significantly contributed to research elucidating mechanisms underlying causes and treatments of nutrition- and obesity-related diseases. Over the past 10 years, the BMFG Core has evolved to integrate advances in technology and in genomic discovery to more optimally position the Core to support nutrition and obesity research. This change is reflected in our redesignation of the core from the Adipose Biology and Basic Mechanisms Core (ABBM) to BMFG. While NORC investigator needs for specialized methods in adipose tissue characterization remain high, the accelerating pace of genomic discovery is increasing the need for mechanistic studies designed to provide rapid interrogation of novel gene function at the levels of cells, tissues, and organisms across multiple species. To meet this growing need, we are broadening the scope of capabilities by integrating technologies to provide relevant human cell models and a cost- and time- effective biological system, zebrafish, to evaluate the impact of genetic variation. The goal of the BMFG Core is to assist investigators in understanding biological, cellular and molecular mechanisms to address nutrition and obesity related problems. This will be achieved by a) training and research support for NORC investigators transitioning into the field of nutrition and obesity or that require expertise in the application of core services; b) expanding resources to bank and enhance phenotypic characterization of human cells and tissues obtained from biopsy and surgery in collaboration with the Clinical Translational Research Core; c) developing biological systems to investigate functional aspects of newly identified candidate genes in collaboration with the Molecular Genetics and Nutrigenomics Core; and d) expand collaborations and shared resources with the Geisinger Heath System (GHS) Obesity Research Institute and Weis Center for Research and other NORC centers.