# Core D - Energy Balance and Body Composition Core

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2020 · $191,250

## Abstract

The Energy Balance and Body Composition Core (Core D) serves investigators across the institution to
quantify energy balance and body composition in mice. Accurate quantification of these parameters is
essential for studies focused on obesity, with wide-spread capabilities for metabolism-related studies. The
core houses 24 LabMaster TSE® chambers that quantify food and water intake, physical activity and indirect
calorimetry in mice, a common model for studies focused on the effect of diet or genetics on the development
of obesity. The Core also houses an EchoMRI® to quantify lean and fat mass and total body water in
conscious mice. Both systems allow for non-invasive longitudinal assessment of energy balance and body
composition. Competent core staff maintain and oversee the use of the LabMaster TSE® system and train
personnel in use of the EchoMRI®. Core Directors assist in study design and data handling and analysis.
Over 50 Principal Investigators use the LabMaster TSE® system annually for studies on >700 mice/year, while
the EchoMRI® is used by more than 25 laboratories annually. These systems are not duplicated at the
institution or within the Commonwealth, and are vital to our ability to reduce the epidemic of obesity in
Kentucky. In Phase III of the program, we will broaden our focus to include obesity as a risk factor for
cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. This will increase use of the
system to support an anticipated larger user base with targeted growth within these areas across the
institution. We will also purchase a new system, from institutional support, that will markedly expand
capabilities of this core in quantifying energy metabolism in mice. Also, during Phase III of the program the
core for this system, including all equipment, will be relocated to a modern animal care facility within a new
research building that is dedicated to the study of these health disparities. We anticipate that this core will
transition to self-sustaining capacity over the course of Phase III support of the COCVD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982358
- **Project number:** 5P30GM127211-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Changcheng Zhou
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $191,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982358

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982358, Core D - Energy Balance and Body Composition Core (5P30GM127211-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982358. Licensed CC0.

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