# Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN · 2020 · $2,337,088

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules (NPOD) supports
research on the identification of biological signals that prevent, treat, and cure obesity and related diseases. The
emphasis of NPOD is on food-borne signals. Led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) in close
collaboration with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), NPOD investigators have their tenure
homes in 16 units crossing basic and clinical sciences, including nutrition, chemical engineering, biochemistry,
gastroenterology, and public health, making NPOD a truly multidisciplinary endeavor. NPOD’s long-term goal is
to enhance the biomedical research infrastructure in Nebraska while combating obesity, a major health problem
impacting U.S. citizens. NPOD’s Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase 1 successes
include over $96M in external funding awards to support research and 375 scholarly publications on the center’s
theme. Ten junior investigators have been mentored through two cohorts, with four of the five Cohort 1 project
leaders graduating from NPOD support and establishing themselves as independent investigators within the
center. The fifth project leader departed for a position in Europe prior to graduation. Cohort 2’s five project leaders
are in the middle of their mentoring period. The hire of four new faculty during Phase 1 enabled the center to lay
the groundwork to build a critical mass of researchers: NPOD’s membership has grown from 13 faculty at the
center’s inception to its current count of 51 investigators. During Phase 1, NPOD renovated space and added
equipment worth over $1M to create the Biomedical and Obesity Research Core comprised of an Obesity and
Nutrition Laboratory (1,976 sq. ft.) and Animal Laboratory (606 sq. ft.). An Administrative Core provides oversight
of program activities to ensure the center functions effectively. NPOD’s many successes in Phase 1 have
positioned it to leverage Phase 2 COBRE funding and institutional commitments (e.g., five new hires,
approximately $1.2M toward start-up packages, and over $1M in cash matches) via strategic activities designed
to maximize center success. Specifically, during Phase 2 NPOD will 1) increase its critical mass of researchers
with an additional five junior investigator hires at UNL and UNMC (and a nutrigenomics investigator hire through
UNL’s Programs of Excellence), recruiting new junior and senior investigators to the center using pilot and seed
grant funding, and continuing to develop strategic alliances with complementary programs in Nebraska; 2)
acquire additional equipment for the Research Core and enhance rigor and reproducibility with statistics and
bioinformatics consultations offered through the Administrative Core; 3) enhance the center’s mentoring structure
and collaborative, multidisciplinary environment through the addition of external mentors and various center
activities; and 4) expand inte...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9996742
- **Project number:** 5P20GM104320-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN
- **Principal Investigator:** JANOS ZEMPLENI
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $2,337,088
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-08-05 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9996742

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9996742, Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules (5P20GM104320-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9996742. Licensed CC0.

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