Obesity and Metabolic Research at UAMS

Research into fat and muscle metabolism

Principal Investigator: Philip A. Kern, M.D.
Professor of Medicine, UAMS
Associate Chief of Staff for Research,
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
Clinical Coordinator: Leslie Miles

You are being invited to participate in a research study on fat and muscle metabolism. Your fat and muscle tissue will be used to study two proteins, called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and leptin. These proteins are important in obesity and diabetes. TNF is produced at high levels in some people, and causes the body to become resistant to the actions of insulin, possibly resulting in diabetes. Leptin is another protein made by fat tissue. Mice that are deficient in leptin become very obese and diabetic. Because TNF and leptin are found in fat and muscle tissue, these fat and muscle biopsies will help Dr. Kern determine the amount of TNF and leptin in your tissues and their role in diabetes and obesity. To do this, two (2) fat biopsies and two (2) muscle biopsies will be performed on two different occasions. For example, if you are obese, you will have the second fat and muscle biopsies after you have lost weight. In addition to the biopsies, studies involving blood sampling will be done to determine how sensitive your body is to insulin.

This study pays $175 for each set of biopsies and insulin sensitivity studies.

If you wish to participate, please contact Leslie Miles @ (501) 257-5893.