# T cells in Childhood Obesity: Immunometabolic Phenotype and Effects of Metformin

> **NIH NIH P20** · ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RES INST · 2020 · $275,802

## Abstract

The goal of this application is to develop an integrated, interdisciplinary and translational Center for
Childhood Obesity Prevention. Childhood obesity is a national public health threat that is disproportionately
worse in Arkansas. Therefore, the immediate goal is to prevent the rise in Arkansas childhood obesity rates,
with an ultimate goal of reducing childhood obesity rates by ≥10% (reduction of ~3.8%) in our state over the
next 5-10 years. Through the establishment of the Center, we will meet this critical need through a coordinated,
community-based approach targeting modifiable individual risk behaviors, environmental risk factors, and local,
state and national risk reduction policies. This strategy will include investigation of underlying metabolic factors.
We will bring together a group of four promising junior investigators whose collective research focuses on
multiple aspects of this central theme, provide these investigators with a supportive infrastructure environment
developed specifically to enhance their chances for success, and use the foundation provided by this initial
group to develop four additional pipeline junior investigators, as well as to promote ongoing recruitment of
subsequent junior investigators with an interest in community-based approaches to childhood obesity
prevention. Specific Aim #1 will establish the Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention, addressing
childhood obesity through targeted behaviors, environments, and policies. In Specific Aim #2, we will
coordinate and enhance existing research infrastructure and collaboration throughout the ACHRI and the UA
System in support of the Center. Three cores will be established or enhanced to support the research of
Center investigators: an Administrative and Scientific Support Core A, a Biostatistics and Informatics Core B,
and a Metabolism Core C, each under the leadership of experienced senior faculty with strong research and
administrative backgrounds. The mentoring program will consist of the Center Mentoring Committee (CMC)
which includes two senior faculty members matched with each junior investigator and each pipeline
investigator (11 total; some overlap); further, the UAMS Faculty Development Program (FDP) supports the
general academic career development and advancement of junior faculty through the Promotion and Tenure
process. These strategies, in coordination with the expertise of the established senior research faculty and an
internal Executive Committee, will provide the synergy and oversight required for the development of ongoing
successful external applications to sustain this work.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10117184
- **Project number:** 5P20GM109096-05
- **Recipient organization:** ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RES INST
- **Principal Investigator:** Shannon Rose
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $275,802
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10117184

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10117184, T cells in Childhood Obesity: Immunometabolic Phenotype and Effects of Metformin (5P20GM109096-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10117184. Licensed CC0.

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