Overall Center for Bio-behavioral Mechanisms of Eating Behavior PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT We propose to establish a Center for Bio-behavioral Mechanisms of Eating Behavior (CBM-EB) at Sanford Research, Fargo along with the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and North Dakota State University (NDSU). The proposed CBM-EB will initially consist of five thematically related research projects focusing on mechanisms related to eating disorders and maladaptive eating behavior. To support the Project Directors of each these five research projects, we will propose a Research Assessment Services Core comprised of a wide array of assessment methodologies that could be innovatively integrated in eating related research, including assessment modalities in the area of psychopathology assessment, biological assays, neuroimaging and neurobiological assessment, eating behavior assessment, and cognitive assessment. In addition to these core research assessment methodologies, we propose a Biomedical Statistics Core to promote scientifically valid and appropriate data collection and analyses for the study of mechanistic processes, as well as a Human Subjects Core to support Project Directors management of regulatory aspects of human subjects research. Additionally, we propose a Clinical Research Training Program which integrates seminars, colloquia, and close mentorship to enhance the development of our entry level investigators. We believe that these resources will facilitate transition of our Project Directors to independent investigators who conduct clinically relevant research.

Overall Center for Bio-behavioral Mechanisms of Eating Behavior NARRATIVE Eating disorders represent one of the most serious and lethal psychiatric disorders. Also, rates of obesity are increasing dramatically across the United States with highly significant medical, social, and economic implications. The purpose of the proposed COBRE is to establish a Center for Bio-behavioral Mechanisms of Eating Behavior (CBM-EB) at the Sanford Center for Bio-behavioral Research that will support comprehensive biomedical studies of eating disorders and eating behavior, while mentoring early career investigators in these areas. The five proposed projects focus on bio-behavioral factors which increase risk, or operate to maintain the disorder.