Transformative Research in Metabolism achieves "center" status

November 4, 2020

University Relations

On Sept. 16, Chancellor Dan White approved UA's Transformative Research in Metabolism program as a center. The UA Center for TRiM is the first and only biomedical research center in the U.S. to adopt a model of natural adaptations in metabolism as an approach to treat metabolic disease.

The center builds on UA’s institutional commitment and 60-year legacy of hibernation research by bringing together existing research activities related to hibernation and metabolism. This recognized status is expected to increase research and training grant funding, expand UA’s biomedical research capacity in translational studies related to hibernation, metabolism, and the microbiome, as well as advance our long-term goal of growing our own Alaska-based biomedical research scientists.

TRiM is supported with funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of General Medical Sciences (P20GM130443) using the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE). It is a collaborative effort between the University of Alaska Fairbanks (lead institution) and the University of Alaska Anchorage (partner institution).

The program is designed to support research activities related to hibernation and metabolism to address human metabolic disease and related conditions. Metabolic health disorders, such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke, disuse muscle atrophy and vascular dementia, are of particular concern to Alaska’s increasing older adult population. Research is critically needed to increase our understanding of these conditions and to develop effective treatment and therapies to promote healthy aging.

For more information about the Center for TRiM, please contact Director Kelly Drew at kdrew@alaska.edu or Denise Daniello, program coordinator, at dldaniello@alaska.edu.