# Skeletal, Metabolic and Neurobehavioral Core (SMNC)

> **NIH NIH U19** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $709,495

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Our extended Skeletal, Metabolic and Neurobehavioral Core (Core A, SMNC) is a resource– and
expertise–based core that supports all Projects across the primary and collaborating sites. It represents a
transdisciplinary expansion of our current Core A—and now comprises a battery of six neurobehavioral
tests and two stereotactic brain injection platforms, in addition to state–of–the–art facilities for skeletal and
metabolic phenotyping. For the rodent–based Projects 1 through 3, we require the estimation of body fat, bone
marrow adipose tissue, energy expenditure, bone structure and function, neurobehavioral testing and/or
stereotactic injections, while all projects, including Project 4, need serum hormone assays. Thus, our
expanded Core A will provide dual–energy X–ray absorptiometry (OsteoSys), quantitative nuclear magnetic
resonance (qNMR, EchoMRI-100), metabolic cages (Promethion), ELISA platforms, and a full complement of
histology, immunohistochemistry and bone histomorphometry. At Maine Medical Center Research Institute
(MMCRI), Core A will provide osmium micro–computed tomography (µCT, VivaCT-40 for bone marrow
adipose tissue, and when required, qNMR (Bruker-7T) for body fat. Core A will also serve as a sample storage
and distribution center. For bone µCT and 4–point bending tests, Core A will send bone samples to Dr. Jay
Cao (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Grand Forks, North Dakota) and Dr. Mary Bouxsein (Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School), respectively. For select studies, genetically–engineered
mice will be relocated to Dr. Edward Guo’s laboratory at Columbia University’s Department of Biomedical
Engineering for the measurement of fat depots by µCT (VivaCT-40). Finally, and importantly, Core A will
continue to maintain our MediaLab Document Control System as a repository for data re–analysis, cross–
institutional validation, and overall provenance. All U19 investigators will have unfettered access to all data
files, supporting our continued attempts to ensure rigor and transparency.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10764102
- **Project number:** 2U19AG060917-06
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** PENG LIU
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $709,495
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-02-01 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10764102

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10764102, Skeletal, Metabolic and Neurobehavioral Core (SMNC) (2U19AG060917-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10764102. Licensed CC0.

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