Clinical Science Research Core (CSRC)

The Clinical Science Research Core (CSRC) enhances and facilitates nutrition/obesity-related clinical translational research by assisting investigators in conducting studies in human subjects through the operation of two sub-cores.  The Clinical Studies Performance sub-core facilitates clinical research by assistance with: i) subject recruitment, ii) planning and performance of clinical studies, iii) collection of fat and muscle tissue samples, iv) exercise testing, v) lifestyle intervention, vi) whole-body and regional body composition assessments (DEXA, MRI, MRS), vii) indirect calorimetry, and viii) assessment of cardiovascular structure and function.  The Metabolic Kinetics sub-core provides comprehensive state-of-the-art stable isotope labeled tracer and non-tracer applications to study diverse areas of metabolic function (production/synthesis and catabolic rates; insulin sensitivity, β-cell function).  In addition, the CSRC provides training for investigators, their staff, and research fellows in these areas of clinical research, both in the form of one-on-one hands-on instruction as well as through seminars and lecture series.  Combining these services within one Core provides a cohesive organizational structure that facilitates the performance of complex clinical research studies, fosters interdisciplinary collaborations between NORC investigators, and reduces the barriers for basic scientists and young investigators who wish to conduct clinical research.

Service available to All entities, including for-profit organizations.

Priority service for No distinctions.

Additional information:

Services available to members of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC). Applications to the NORC can be found at https://gns.wustl.edu/research/nutrition-obesity-research-center/membership/.

• CLINICAL STUDIES PERFORMANCE SUB-CORE (Director: Bettina Mittendorfer, PhD):
• Metabolic study design and performance
• Infusate preparation
• Muscle and adipose tissue acquisition
• Body composition analyses
• Exercise testing (aerobic fitness, strength, etc)
• Indirect calorimetry
• Lifestyle intervention
• Cardiovascular assessments
• Sleep evaluation (inpatient and outpatient)
• METABOLIC KINETICS SUB-CORE (Director: Bruce W. Patterson, PhD):
• Metabolic kinetic study design consultation
• Sample processing, derivatization, and GC/MS analyses
• Quantitative GC analysis of fatty acid profiles
• Kinetic analysis and mathematical modeling of metabolic kinetics including dynamic metabolomics

• CLINICAL STUDIES PERFORMANCE SUB-CORE Equipment housed in and jointly maintained by the Clinical Translational Research Unit (CTRU):
• Lunar iDXA with CoreScan™ software for body composition and bone mineral density analysis in persons weighing up to 204 kg (450 pounds)
• four Parvo Medics True Max 2400 indirect calorimetry systems
• two Cycle ergometers (a Lode upright and a Cateye reclining bike)
• Woodway treadmill
• Biodex System 4 Pro dynamometer
• Hoist multi-station exercise gym
• Cadwell Industries, Sierra Summit electromyography and nerve conduction assessment system
• Sonosite ultrasound system to assist with vascular access line placement
• Philips Epiq 7 ultrasound system to assess cardiovascular function, tissue perfusion, and liver stiffness
• SphygmoCor system to assess vascular compliance and arterial stiffness
• two EndoPat 2000 systems to evaluate endothelial function
• Helena Labs Plateletworks system to assess platelet function
• two Compumedics Grael PSG/EEG with video monitoring for inpatient sleep assessment
• two Alice PDx portable sleep diagnostic system for outpatient sleep assessment
• Physical activity, Holter, and continuous glucose monitors; smart scales; YSI analyzers to measure glucose and lactate; vital sign monitoring systems; body scales and stadiometers
• ECG equipment; cardiac emergency cart
• Equipment blood and tissue sample processing, storage and shipping in dedicated laboratory space, including laminar flow hoods, analytical scales, centrifuges, refrigerators, and freezers that are connected to a remote monitoring and notification system
• CLINICAL STUDIES PERFORMANCE SUB-CORE Equipment housed in NORC exercise facility (5th floor Irene Walter Johnson Building) and maintained by this Sub-Core:
• Woodway Desmo-M treadmill and 1 Quinton Q55 treadmill
• Cateye recumbent cycle ergometer
• Parvo Medics TrueMax 2400 metabolic cart
• four treadmills; two Elliptical exercise ergometers; six rowing ergometers
• four Monark cycle ergometers; four Reebok spin cycles; five Schwinn Airdynes; Schwinn exerciser cycle
• three hoist multi-station weight machines; three weight benches; two pull-up/multi gym towers
• Powertech Hack squat machine; Smith machine; Eccentron; foam rollers; dumbbells (ranging from 1lb-70lb); aerobic step platform; risers for aerobic step
• Weight medicine balls; stability balls; sand ankle/wrist weights; Bosu balance trainer; miniature cones for agility drills; training hurdle
• a 4-lane 90-meter track
• Cardiac emergency cart with defibrillator
• CLINICAL STUDIES PERFORMANCE SUB-CORE Equipment housed in the pharmacy-grade infusate preparation facility in the CTRU that is maintained and operated by the NORC research pharmacy technician:
• IsoTech MicroSphere – ISO Class 5 Compounding Aseptic Isolator for the preparation of IV admixtures
• BAXA volumetric automated repeater pump – for fluid transfers during compounding of sterile preparations
• Centrifuge for preparation of peptides during compounding of sterile preparations
• Mettler Toledo MS303S Balance and Ohaus Adventurer Pro Balance – for compounding sterile preparations
• Portable heating water bath for the preparation of CSP (compounded sterile preparations) at specific temperature
• Endosafe PTS (portable device used for bacterial endotoxin testing of CSPs)
• Vortex Genie mixer for the preparation of dilutions for endotoxin testing
• four refrigerators to store CSPs; three incubators for environmental monitoring and sterility testing procedures (all require incubation at different temperatures)
• Digital data logger thermometers
• Hot plate – used for the preparation of thioglycolate media with indicator used for sterility testing of final product
• IV inspection light box – used for end preparation assessment for visible particulate contamination against white and black background
• CLINICAL STUDIES PERFORMANCE SUB-CORE Equipment housed in and jointly maintained by the Clinical Translational Research Unit (CTRU) metabolic kitchen:
• Vulcan commercial 10 plate electric range
• Commercial countertop convection steamer
• Hobart LXEH commercial under-counter dishwasher
• Norlake Walk-in Refrigerator/Freezer; Traulsen G-series reach-in refrigerator; four Traulsen G-series reach-in freezers
• Assorted small equipment for ingredient measurement, formula mixing, food preparation and packaging, including six analytical balances, microwave ovens, a digital sonifier, stir plates, laboratory glassware, a Robot Coupe food processor, a stand mixer, blenders, vacuum food sealer, heat sealer, and digital thermometers
• CLINICAL STUDIES PERFORMANCE SUB-CORE Equipment housed in and jointly maintained by the Central Laboratory for Clinical Studies (CLCS):
• Roche Diagnostics c501 chemistry analyzer
• Roche Diagnostics e601 immunoanalyzer
• Beckman Coulter UniCel DxH600 hematology analyzer
• Siemens Immulite 1000 immunoanalyzer
• Singulex Erenna immunoanalyzer (digital single molecule counting)
• ICN Biomedical 10/600 Plus gamma counter; Titertek Plus gamma counter
• Bio-Tek ELx 800 ELISA plate reader; Bio-Tek Powerwave 200 plate reader
• eighteen Alarmed and monitored -70° C freezers
• METABOLIC KINETICS SUB-CORE Equipment housed and operated in the GC/MS module of this Core:
• Hewlett Packard (Agilent) 5977B GC/MS MSD system (EI/PCI/NCI) with autosampler; Hewlett Packard (Agilent) 5973N GC/MS MSD system (EI) with autosampler
• Hewlett Packard (Agilent) 5973inert GC/MS MSD system (EI) with autosampler, headspace injector, and flame ionization detector
• Beckman/Coulter Optima LE-80K ultracentrifuge with 3 rotors; Beckman GS-6KR refrigerated centrifuge
• Thermo Fisher SC250EXP0 SpeedVac centrifugal concentrators
• Beckman DU-520 spectrophotometer
• BioTek Epoch 2 plate reader with spectrophotometric detector
• two -20°C freezers; nine -80°C freezers that are connected to a remote monitoring and notification system
• Assorted small equipment for sample processing (vortexers, heating blocks, water baths, analytical balances, stir plates, microfuge, pH meter, etc.)
• METABOLIC KINETICS SUB-CORE Equipment housed and operated in the LC/NMR module of this Core:
• Agilent UHD swarm QTOF (6545) with autosampler; Agilent UHD extended resolution QTOF (6540) with autosampler; Agilent QTOF (6530) with autosampler
• SCIEX TripleTOF 5600+ QTOF with autosampler
• Thermo Q-Exactive Plus Orbitrap with autosampler; two Thermo tribrid ID-X Obritraps with autosampler
• Waters Synapt XS QTOF with ion mobility and autosampler
• Agilent QqQ (6460) with autosampler
• Thermo TSQ Altis with autosampler
• Acquity UPLC I-Class PLUS LC system
• four Agilent 1290 UPLC LC systems; three Agilent 1260 HPLC LC systems
• Eksigent UHPLC LC system
• four Dionext UltiMate 300 UHPLC LC systems
• two Bruker 500 MHz NMR spectrometers with 5-channel probes
• three Beckman GS-6KR refrigerated centrifuges
• two Thermo Fisher SC250EXP0 SpeedVac centrifugal concentrators
• Cytation 7 BioTek fluorescence microscope and plate reader; Thermo Fisher Nanodrop UV-VIS Spectrophotometer; MP Bio Tissue Homogenizer
• Li-Cor Odyssessy CLx Imaging System for Western blots; Agilent Seahorse XF Metabolic Flux Analyzer
• eight Thermo Fisher 6.5 Cu ft incubators; four Thermo Fisher 4 ft biosafety cabinets
• five -20°C freezers; eight -80°C freezers that are connected to a remote monitoring and notification system
• Assorted small equipment for sample processing (vortexers, heating blocks, water baths, analytical balances, stir plates, microfuge, pH meter, microscopes, etc.)

Please contact this core directly for pricing information.