Transformative Research in Metabolism achieves "center" status
November 4, 2020
On Sept. 16, Chancellor Dan White approved UA's Transformative Research in Metabolism
program as a center. The UA Center for TRiM is the first and only biomedical research
center in the U.S. to adopt a model of natural adaptations in metabolism as an approach
to treat metabolic disease.
The center builds on UA’s institutional commitment and 60-year legacy of hibernation
research by bringing together existing research activities related to hibernation
and metabolism. This recognized status is expected to increase research and training
grant funding, expand UA’s biomedical research capacity in translational studies related
to hibernation, metabolism, and the microbiome, as well as advance our long-term goal
of growing our own Alaska-based biomedical research scientists.
TRiM is supported with funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Institutes
of General Medical Sciences (P20GM130443) using the Centers of Biomedical Research
Excellence (COBRE). It is a collaborative effort between the University of Alaska
Fairbanks (lead institution) and the University of Alaska Anchorage (partner institution).
The program is designed to support research activities related to hibernation and
metabolism to address human metabolic disease and related conditions. Metabolic health
disorders, such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke, disuse muscle
atrophy and vascular dementia, are of particular concern to Alaska’s increasing older
adult population. Research is critically needed to increase our understanding of these
conditions and to develop effective treatment and therapies to promote healthy aging.
For more information about the Center for TRiM, please contact Director Kelly Drew
at kdrew@alaska.edu or Denise Daniello, program coordinator, at dldaniello@alaska.edu.