Georgia Cystic Fibrosis Research and Translation Core Center

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PROJECT SUMMARY – Overall This application proposes to establish the Georgia Cystic Fibrosis Research and Translation Core Center (the Georgia CF Core Center) at Emory University, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Augusta University, and the Georgia Institute of Technology. This center will leverage activities at these institutions to solve critical problems associated with CF. Georgia CF Core Center research will focus on non-pulmonary aspects of CF disease central to the mission of the NIDDK, including CF-related diabetes (CFRD) and the impact of CF on nutritional status, GI function, and liver disease. Unique to our center will be the study of the relationship between these co-morbidities and lifestyle/behavioral choices such as diet, exercise, and sleep. The proposed basic, clinical, and translational CF research supported via this application is centered around the 900 patients followed at the participating institutions. The research base is comprised of 61 investigators, across both basic and clinical departments at four institutions, with a total of $15,150,207 in direct costs for CF-related research in the current year. These investigators will address issues that are becoming ever more important to the health of people with CF, as successes with small-molecule therapeutics makes it possible for us to anticipate an “aging” CF population. On the opposite end of the spectrum are studies in toddlers and young children on the genesis of these co-morbidities which have the potential for defining early preventive interventions. We will integrate data from multiple platforms spanning from basic science to ‘omics and clinical research informatics to enable longitudinal study of patients with the goal of identifying factors associated with disease progression and advancing our understanding of current CF therapeutic and lifestyle approaches.  Aim 1: To provide a robust, well-coordinated environment for CF biomedical research.  Aim 2: To facilitate and enable the expansion of the funded research in non-pulmonary complications of CF.  Aim 3: To attract new investigators focused on non-pulmonary complications of CF who will bring new expertise that will advance new perspectives on pathophysiology and treatment. We will accomplish these aims by the coordinated activities of four biomedical research Cores:  Diabetes, GI, and Nutrition Core  Lifestyle and Behaviors Core  Molecular Multi-Omics Core  Clinical Research and Informatics Core These research cores will be supported by an Administrative Core which will ensure the efficient use of resources. This core will also strengthen the intellectual environment for research through a robust Enrichment and Dissemination Program as well as a Pilot & Feasibility Program with two projects proposed. Support of the proposed P30 program will create a vigorous research enterprise focused on non-pulmonary CF disease, uncovering new disease mechanisms with potential for translation to therapeutic strategies.