Novel T1–T4 Translational Research Research Program

Developed as part of a unique experiment for IU’s CTSI, the Institute has been the home of an effort to attack one medical problem, diabetes (a major health problem in the State of Indiana), by going from the molecular level to the community level to investigate novel roots of obesity. That is, beginning with chemical and biological scientists examining which agricultural pollutants may be “obesogens” (i.e., chemicals that disrupt metabolic processes) in flies, mice and fish, the highly interdisciplinary team has participated in designing a study that moves to humans (both in seeing how blood is affected to considering water systems and cultural practices) and finally to institutional and political changes to alter risk.