Clinical Nutrition Research Center (CNRC) Genetics Core
Interim Director: W. Timothy Garvey, MD
Core investigators: Jose Fernandez, PhD, and Kerry Lok, MD
Department/Center Association: CNRU/Obesity
Established: 1996
Mission
The CNRC Genetics Core, funded by the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), provides investigators performing nutrition/obesity-related
research access to common Core resources in order to enhance and strengthen the quality of
genetic and molecular studies.
Facility Description
The CNRC Genetics Core Facility is located in the Susan Mott Webb Nutrition Sciences
Building. Core equipment includes an Agilent Bioanalyzer, an ABI310 capillary electrophoresis
DNA analyzer, a CEQ 8000 Genetic/DNA Analysis System, a Stratagene MX 3000 Real time
Quantitative PCR, thermal cyclers, sample storage equipment, etc.
Services
CNRC services include the following:
 Sample processing and DNA extraction and storage
 Biomedical Sample Bank and Database Management
 Racial genetic admixture assessment
 Quantitative RT-PCR
 Automated DNA fragment analysis and polymorphism typing
(ABI310PrismGeneticAnalyzer) – recently studied polymorphisms include: MTHFR,
CBS, apoE, urokinase, PAI-1, fibrinogen, TPA, ATPA1A2, ADRB3, IGF1, IRS1,
GNB3, MC4R and UCP1-3. adiponectin T45G, ApoCIII (T-445G, 3utr), CPT1,
CETPTaqI B, TCF7L2, ApoB (EcoRI, XbaI, Ins/del haplotype)
 DNA sequencing
 Semi-automated RNA and DNA fragment analysis (Agilent Bioanalyzer)
 Microsatellites (mouse and human)
 Molecular and bioinformatics consultation services
The Genetics and Molecular Methods Development Core has continued to provide
services in genotyping, DNA sequencing, quantitative RT-PCR in response to ongoing needs of
the investigator base.
In addition, the Core has expanded its services in two areas. The first is in DNA
extraction and storage combined with banking of biological specimens and database
management. CNRC investigators have studied several large human population samples and
are engaged in several funded cohort studies. The Core has centralized services for banking of
the biological specimens (serum, plasma, urine, DNA, muscle/fat biopsies) and database
management. This has increased the efficiency and efficacy of these processes, facilitated
cross-collaboration, and expanded the capacity for hypothesis testing. Population studies
include Romeo, Juliet, Americo, Victory, Project Sugar, the EatRight cohort, and several large
groups of volunteers studied on the UAB General Clinical Research Center. Investigators can
now draw from a larger pool of data in collaboration with their colleagues to test specific
hypotheses, and appropriate biological samples can be identified electronically and aliquoted for
targeted assays. Of course the Core is careful to ensure that all IRB and informed consent
procedures are in place for these studies.
The second area of development has been quantification of racial genetic admixture.
We believe this variable is critical to better understand the causes of health disparities. This
capacity will support our investigators in studying the genetic basis of obesity, the Metabolic
Syndrome, and other nutritional diseases. Core investigators are currently conducting genetic
studies in several populations, including mixed race populations in the Birmingham area and in
Alabama’s Black Belt counties, Gullah-speaking African Americans, national cohort trials, and
subgroups of volunteers who have been metabolically phenotyped through the years in the
context of several UAB protocols (e.g., ROMEO-JULIET). In particular, our investigators are
planning several genetic studies of obesity in African Americans living in Black Belt counties by
utilizing the infrastructure of the Deep South Cancer Network, an existing community-based
resource that maintains community liaison through over 900 trained lay health advisors living in
these communities. Since Caucasian admixture can vary widely in African American
individuals, this variable will be quantified to assess the impact of racial genetic composition on
obesity phenotypes.
Contact Information
CNRC Genetics Core: Kerry Lok, MD
Email: kerrylok@uab.edu
Phone: 205-975-5090
Web Site: http://138.26.176.127/CNRC/Core/Genetics.asp
Approved by: W. Timothy Garvey, MD, Interim Director
Date: February 19, 2007
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