PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – Core 1 – Animal Phenotyping/Metabolism Core The services provided in the Animal Phenotyping/Metabolism Core draw upon the expertise of many investigators at UTSW to provide comprehensive analytical capabilities that are on par with the best facilities in the world. We established our Animal Phenotyping/Metabolism Core more than 12 years ago and we have continued to expand our assay capabilities to support investigators with in-depth preclinical capabilities. The availability of standardized assays speeds the pace of our research, facilitates inter-lab comparisons of data, and provides a common platform for the necessary close interactions between investigators of the NORC. Animal models that allow careful characterization of the metabolic effects of obesity and that have an altered communication axis between critical tissues and are vital to understand the pathogenesis of disease. Given the number of phenotypic measurements, the range of target metabolites, and the number of different animal models investigated among the NORC investigators, it is necessary to provide uniform measurements and to have quality control guidelines in place. To facilitate the research of NORC investigators, Core 1 will provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art measurements of multiple metabolic parameters, with measurements involving physiological read outs that include lipid, glucose, and metabokine assays. The technical expertise offered by the Animal Phenotyping/Metabolism Core will bring multiple benefits to NORC investigators, including but not limited to the following: Centralized Core services that are more cost effective and prevent the duplication of reagents across NORC investigators. Provides consistency in various assays across laboratories. Provides consistent quality control measures. Makes available technically challenging assays, such as hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps, that cannot be established in individual laboratories. Makes available equipment that is essential for nutrition and obesity research but that is too expensive for individual investigators to purchase (e.g. Seahorse, MRI, metabolic cages, animal CT). Frees investigators from routine work to focus on the intellectual challenges of the projects.