Translational Research Institute

Partnering with Asia’s largest pharmaceutical company to find obesity treatments

by Patrick Bartosch on February 11, 2013 at 11:00 pm | 0 Comments

Drs. Smith (TRI), Izumo (Takeda), and Kelly (Sanford-Burnham; left to right) in traditional Japanese coats at the signing ceremony for the renewed partnership

We held a special signing ceremony today at our Lake Nona, Orlando, campus to renew our research agreement with Florida Hospital and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. The renewal extends our collaboration to discover and evaluate new therapeutic approaches to obesity. The collaboration uses a research and drug-development model that creates an early feedback loop in the discovery pipeline. We and our partners expect this model will shorten the time to develop new therapeutics.

Interest in the development of obesity treatments remains strong, as the regulatory approval of two new obesity therapeutics in 2012 offered a proven pathway for drug candidates. “As the worldwide obesity crisis continues to escalate, we are seeing a rise in the prevalence of severe obesity—defined by BMI greater than 40—and we know that this subset of the obese population experiences increased mortality and associated diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer,” said Steven R. Smith, M.D., scientific director of the Florida Hospital – Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI) and president-elect of The Obesity Society. “These statistics are staggering and clearly demonstrate the need to rapidly develop treatment strategies for obesity.”

How belly fat differs from thigh fat—and why it matters

by Heather Buschman, Ph.D. on January 9, 2013 at 6:20 am | 4 Comments

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Researchers discover that the genes active in a person’s belly fat are significantly different from those in his or her thigh fat, a finding that could shift the way we approach unwanted belly fat—from banishing it to relocating it.

Men tend to store fat in the abdominal area, but don’t usually have much in the way of hips or thighs. Women, on the other hand, are more often pear-shaped—storing more fat on their hips and thighs than in the belly.

Why are women and men shaped differently?

The answer still isn’t clear, but it’s an issue worth investigating, says Steven Smith, M.D., director of the Florida Hospital – Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes. That’s because belly fat is associated with higher risks of heart disease and diabetes. On the other hand, hip and thigh fat don’t seem to play a special role in these conditions.

Translational Research Institute establishes new research paradigm for metabolic diseases

Originally published March 27, 2012

Florida Hospital and Sanford-Burnham today celebrate the opening of the Florida Hospital – Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes’ (TRI) new state-of-the-art facility in downtown Orlando, Fla., dedicated to the advancement of a new paradigm of personalized approaches to researching and treating diabetes and obesity.

“We are witnessing the rise of personalized medicine, most notably in cancer. Our goal at the TRI is to accelerate the advancement of personalized medicine in diabetes and obesity,” said Steven Smith, M.D., Sanford-Burnham professor and scientific director of the TRI. “We are working to rapidly expand knowledge of complex genetic and molecular causes of diabetes and obesity so that we can better define disease subpopulations. By working independently and in partnership with industry, we hope to develop therapies and treatment approaches tailored to those subpopulations. Our ultimate goal is that our discoveries will someday lead to cures for certain patients.”

Steven Smith named president-elect of The Obesity Society

by Patrick Bartosch on October 25, 2012 at 5:24 am | 0 Comments

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Dr. Steven Smith was appointed president-elect of TOS in September

Steven R. Smith, M.D., co-director of translational research at Sanford-Burnham and scientific director of the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI), recently began his term as president-elect of The Obesity Society (TOS), following the organization’s September meeting. As the leading scientific society dedicated to the study of obesity, TOS is committed to encouraging research into the causes and treatment of obesity, and to keeping the medical community and public informed of new advances.

“The Obesity Society is focused on education, research, and action to reverse the obesity epidemic and to help all Americans achieve better health,” says Smith. “Society is plagued by this epidemic that threatens our health and burdens our health care delivery system. In my new role, I look forward to helping educate the public, fellow clinicians, and policy makers about the impact of obesity. It is also imperative that we advocate for increased research funding in parallel with ongoing efforts to improve health through nutrition and physical activity.” At Sanford-Burnham and the TRI, Smith and his team hope to “crack the code” of obesity and provide more individualized, tailored approaches to treatment and prevention.

Meet Rebecca, Sanford-Burnham employee and obesity study participant

by Patrick Bartosch on August 3, 2012 at 5:57 am | 0 Comments

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Scientists at the TRI measure Rebecca Kaercher's oxygen levels, among other parameters

Rebecca Kaercher has been struggling with her weight for years. “Losing weight has been a very frustrating endeavor for me. I go on diets, I work out, but I just don’t lose any weight,” she says. Rebecca has been working at Sanford-Burnham at Lake Nona for three years and, together with a few of her Institute coworkers, was thrilled to volunteer as a metabolism and weight loss study subject at the Florida Hospital – Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI). “I am very proud to work at Sanford-Burnham and I want to be an active part of our research. Except for being overweight, I am a very healthy person. I don’t have high cholesterol, no high blood pressure, no diabetes. So it was hard for me to understand why I didn’t lose any weight.”

Rebecca is the kind of person scientists at the TRI are currently looking for as volunteers – people who have tried to lose weight by exercising and changing their diets but didn’t succeed. As with many other people who have the same problem, something in Rebecca’s body keeps her from losing weight and researchers at the TRI are trying to find out what that could be. The common perception is that overweight people only need to eat healthier and exercise more in order to lose weight. But this simple approach does not work for everyone. That is about to change with the research taking place at the TRI’s new facility in downtown Orlando.

A “twisted” grand opening ceremony

by Patrick Bartosch on March 29, 2012 at 3:35 pm | 0 Comments

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TRI grand opening speakers (from left to right): John Reed, Terry Owen, Dan Kelly, Steve Smith, Lars Houmann, Des Cummings, Don Jernigan

“My goal is to cure diabetes,” Steven Smith, M.D., scientific director of the Florida Hospital – Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI), said boldly at the opening ceremony of the TRI’s new state-of-the-art facility in downtown Orlando on March 27. “We believe that personalized medicine is our best shot at discovering cures for our most serious health problems like diabetes.”

The ceremony’s highlight was the unveiling of a spectacular nine-foot double-helix DNA structure that will be placed at the main entrance of the building, symbolizing the fundamental research being conducted at the TRI, as well as the synergies and collaborations the TRI represents. Selected board members and presenters each added one illuminated “bar,” representing a nucleotide, to the double helix.

“This is one of those rare times when the reality far exceeds the dream,” said John Reed, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of Sanford-Burnham. “The TRI is a wonderful opportunity for our organization, which will bring more and more to life our slogan From Research, the Power to Cure. We’re very excited about this opportunity to take our relationship with Florida Hospital to the next level.”

Translational Research Institute establishes new research paradigm for metabolic diseases

by Patrick Bartosch on March 27, 2012 at 6:00 am | 0 Comments

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New TRI Facility in Downtown Orlando

Obesity research advances to clinical testing

by Patrick Bartosch on March 6, 2012 at 6:00 am | 8 Comments

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Orexin targets brown fat cells

Discoveries made in the laboratories of Sanford-Burnham will, for the first time, advance to the clinical research stage involving human studies at the Florida Hospital – Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI). The research will focus on orexin, an appetite-inducing hormone produced in the brain, which appears to resolve obesity without requiring a reduction in food consumption or elevation in physical activity. This research exemplifies the translational research focus at Sanford-Burnham and the TRI – advancing science from laboratory bench to patient bedside. The studies will provide insight into individual responses and contribute to the development of personalized therapies for treating metabolic diseases – a focus area for both the TRI and Sanford-Burnham.

Appetite-suppressing drugs have traditionally been the basis of weight-loss treatments since obesity is thought to be caused by excessive energy intake and low physical activity. However, appetite suppressants can produce unacceptable side effects and, after the treatment ends, patients usually the weight they lost. Recent data indicate that orexin leads to weight loss by releasing excess energy as heat instead of storing it.

Taking stock: obesity research progress with Takeda

by Deborah Robison on February 15, 2012 at 6:01 am | 0 Comments

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Sanford-Burnham scientists met with Takeda partner in Japan in January

Scientists from the Diabetes and Obesity Research Center and their colleagues from Florida Hospital recently returned from Japan, where they reviewed the progress that has been made at the mid-point of a research partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical. The two-year collaboration focuses on the discovery and evaluation of new therapeutic approaches to obesity. In Japan, Sanford-Burnham scientists reported benchmark data that sets the stage for a key element in future drug development—the testing of obesity drug candidates.

“The data generated thus far lays the groundwork for analysis of how individuals respond differently to disease,” said Steven R. Smith, M.D., director of the Florida Hospital – Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI), where the clinical studies are being performed with volunteers. “This partnership with Takeda, TRI, and Sanford-Burnham establishes a model to accelerate the development of safe and effective therapies.”

Obesity is not one condition: an interview with Dr. Steven Smith

by Heather Buschman, Ph.D. on October 21, 2011 at 9:28 am | 0 Comments

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Dr. Steven Smith, scientific director of the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes

Dr. Steven Smith is the scientific director of the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes, a collaboration between Sanford-Burnham and Florida Hospital. In a special presentation at Obesity 2011: The Obesity Society 29th Annual Scientific Meeting, held October 1-5 in Orlando, Fla., Dr. Smith discussed some up-and-coming anti-obesity agents, how they work, and how physicians might be able to put them to use. In his talk, he emphasized the importance of better understanding the fundamental cellular mechanisms that fuel obesity. With a greater appreciation for human metabolism, Dr. Smith explained, scientists will be able to develop new medications that focus less on appetite suppression (the target of most current weight loss drugs) and more on peripheral targets such as muscle or fat.

Building translational research

by Deborah Robison on May 26, 2011 at 3:25 pm | 1 comment

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Dr. Steven Smith and Dr. Stephen Gardell leave their marks on the new TRI building.

Dr. Steven Smith and Dr. Stephen Gardell sign the new TRI building.

The Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI), a collaboration between Sanford-Burnham and Florida Hospital, is one step closer to opening its research facility. The 54,000 square-foot building recently reached its final height, and a special ceremony was held during which researchers gathered to sign one of the interior columns. Construction to enclose the building will now begin. The TRI, which studies diabetes, obesity and the metabolic origins of cardiovascular disease, will help bridge the gap between the scientist’s laboratory and the patient’s bedside. The TRI will unite scientists, clinicians and advanced technologies to spur translational research and rapidly create new, more effective treatments.

“We are witnessing an epidemic of obesity and diabetes in the United States,” said Dr. Steven R. Smith, scientific director of the TRI. “The main goal of the TRI is to generate new knowledge to improve lives through innovative research. By ‘topping out’ the TRI, we are one step closer towards developing Orlando as a medical destination.”

A different kind of dorm room

by Heather Buschman, Ph.D. on May 19, 2011 at 5:00 am | 3 Comments

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This calorimetry suite will be an important tool in the new Translational Research Institute facility, opening January 2012 (rendering by Flad Architects)

Calorimetry suite in the new Translational Research Institute facility, due to open January 2012 (artist's rendering by Flad Architects)

Obesity negatively affects the entire body – no organ system is left untouched. It increases a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, certain cancers and many other conditions. If the current trend of expanding waistlines continues, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least one in five Americans will be diabetic by the year 2050.

The goal of the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI), a collaboration between Florida Hospital and Sanford-Burnham, is to alter this course by translating basic scientific discoveries in the laboratory to usable information and products that improve the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases – especially obesity and diabetes.

“At the moment, there is a big gap between what we know and what we want to know about human metabolism, obesity and diabetes. Our ultimate goal in translational research is to bridge that gap,” says Dr. Steven R. Smith, TRI’s scientific director and professor at Sanford-Burnham. “As basic researchers continue to unravel the molecular underpinnings of these diseases, TRI will be conducting proof-of-concept experiments to validate new drug targets and test new therapies for safety and efficacy.”

When it opens in January 2012, the TRI’s new three-story facility in Orlando, Florida will contain a research clinic, imaging technology, a biorepository for sample collection and storage, and several other resources for metabolic studies. But the facility’s highlight will be the calorimeter rooms – small dormitory-style rooms outfitted with a bed, treadmill and toilet. These whole-room calorimeters will allow the TRI staff to measure fat and carbohydrate oxidation and energy expenditure as a person goes about his or her normal life – sleeping, eating, walking, etc. As the patient exercises on the treadmill, scientists will be able to measure his or her oxygen consumption and calories burned without using invasive tubing or sensors. This approach will provide superior comfort – and therefore generate more accurate data – during exercise.

Collaboration with Takeda seeks to translate research into treatments

by Josh Baxt on December 28, 2010 at 4:00 am | 0 Comments

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Sanford-Burnham, Florida Hospital and Takeda Pharmaceutical have formed a collaboration to investigate new therapies for obesity, a growing worldwide health problem. The partnership leverages the three organizations’ strengths in basic biomedical research, clinical research and drug development to identify obesity-related biomarkers and other targets with therapeutic potential.“There is an epidemic of obesity in the U.S.; two-thirds of Americans are now overweight or obese. These staggering statistics serve as a call for decisive action, including innovative bench-to-bedside translational research,” says Dr. Steven R. Smith, scientific director of the Florida Hospital-Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI). “This partnership with Takeda, TRI and Sanford-Burnham represents a major milestone in the quest for a better understanding of obesity as a disease and a pathway forward for the development of safe and effective therapies.”

New home for translational research

by Deborah Robison on December 14, 2010 at 1:06 pm | 2 Comments

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Dr. Steven Smith, executive director of the Florida Hospital-Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes (TRI), took control of a backhoe to help demolish an old facility on the site of TRI’s new research building. The three-story facility will unite Sanford-Burnham’s laboratory research with Florida Hospital’s patient-oriented studies to translate basic science discoveries into new treatments.

“We are witnessing an epidemic of obesity and diabetes in the United States,” said Dr. Smith. “Current statistics show that two-thirds of all Americans are overweight and obese and one in 12 has some form of diabetes. These staggering statistics call for decisive action and that includes innovative research.”

The new TRI facility will contain clinic space, testing rooms, medical imaging, a biorepository and advanced technologies to develop personalized treatments. The new facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

“The TRI provides a virtual bridge between Florida Hospital’s Orlando campus and Medical City at Lake Nona,” said Dr. Daniel Kelly, scientific director at Sanford-Burnham at Lake Nona. “Instead of cars, information will speed back and forth on the bridge to accelerate discoveries leading to new treatments.”

Teaming up to fight obesity

by Josh Baxt on June 24, 2010 at 12:52 pm | 0 Comments

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Today’s Orlando Sentinel features a unique initiative that Florida Hospital (a Sanford-Burnham partner) has created to fight childhood obesity. Called Healthy 100 Kids, the program unites a pediatrician, a registered dietitian, a child psychologist and an exercise physiologist to help children overcome this debilitating condition. Sanford-Burnham researchers will work with the clinicians to determine the geneticcauses of obesity and which treatments work best.

“Childhood obesity is a very complex issue that requires many specialists and time and specialized resources to be able to really put a dent in it, to really make a difference for the families,” said Dr. Angela Fals, a pediatrician specializing in obesity and the lead doctor in the program.

The Translational Research Institute (TRI), a collaboration between Florida Hospital and Sanford-Burnham, will develop a biorepository and clinical research database to further explore childhood obesity. Sanford-Burnham will use this data to identify genes that lead to obesity and diabetes.

“We’re interested in factors that influence susceptibility,” said Dr. Steven Smith, executive director of the TRI and Sanford-Burnham faculty member. “We need to understand why some kids are more susceptible than others to becoming obese.”

Check out the article: New Florida Hospital program tackles childhood obesity with unique approach.

Partnering with Asia’s largest pharmaceutical company to find obesity treatments

How belly fat differs from thigh fat—and why it matters

Top 10 most-read blog posts of 2012: #9

Translational Research Institute establishes new research paradigm for metabolic diseases

Steven Smith named president-elect of The Obesity Society

Meet Rebecca, Sanford-Burnham employee and obesity study participant

A “twisted” grand opening ceremony

Translational Research Institute establishes new research paradigm for metabolic diseases

Obesity research advances to clinical testing

Taking stock: obesity research progress with Takeda

Obesity is not one condition: an interview with Dr. Steven Smith

Building translational research

A different kind of dorm room

Collaboration with Takeda seeks to translate research into treatments

New home for translational research

Teaming up to fight obesity

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