Momentum Center Member Resources & Opportunities

The Momentum Center is invested in the success, engagement, and personal and professional growth of its members. In addition, sparking innovation by creating connections across disciplines is central to the mission of the Momentum Center.

Several resources and opportunities are available to members to support these goals, including:

Pilot Project Funding

The Momentum Center offers periodic opportunities for members to apply for childhood obesity research and training funding. The goal is to provide financial support for our investigators that will allow them to pursue innovative ideas in their research in a variety of ways. It is expected that this will support:

• The development of collaborative working relationships
• The formation of new research ideas
• The enhancement of current research methodologies, and/or
• The generation of preliminary data to support the pursuit of future extramural funding opportunities.

A study team representing at least two distinct disciplines is required. Learn more about past projects here.

Core Resources

DATA ACCESS AND ANALYSIS

• The Data Core facilitates access to existing datasets as well as access to a network of statisticians who may be able to serve as co-investigators on your research projects.
• A common catalog of datasets for obesity research we created through collaboration with ICPSR Demography Archive is available here (see the “Childhood Obesity” link).

THE NUTRITION, EXERCISE, AND PHENOTYPE TESTING (NExT) CORE, THE MICHIGAN NUTRITION OBESITY RESEARCH CENTER (MNORC)

The NExT Core Nutrition Assessment Laboratory (NAL) provides nutrition services to support research through a variety of mechanisms:

• Guidance on Study Design and Methods: Experts are available to discuss study needs, recommend methods, and provide consultation for grant development and study implementation.
• Dietary Assessment: Staff are available to collect, organize, and analyze dietary data (e.g. 24-hour dietary recalls and food records) to ensure high quality, accurate data using standardized and reliable procedures, such as the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) software.
• Nutrition Counseling: Dietitians are available to provide study-specific nutrition counseling to study participants and to develop study-specific menus.
• Preparation of Study Meals: A full metabolic kitchen and staff are trained to develop, prepare, and deliver study-specific timed, calculated meals or standard diets.
• Training: Staff are available to train your study staff to collect dietary data using FFQs or food records and to collect anthropometric data. Specialized NDSR trainings are also available.

Member Engagement

• Bi-monthly member newsletter with announcements about childhood obesity funding, training, events, news, and member publications.
• Periodic member meetings for members to: learn about resources, new findings in childhood obesity research, and Momentum Center updates; interact with each other to establish new collaborative relationships; share ideas, perspectives, and expertise; and be recognized for their work.
• Opportunities to share and review draft grant summaries and aims and/or hold topic-focused discussions.
• Momentum Center member website to connect, share files and resources, post events and announcements, and discuss childhood obesity research issues and ideas.
• Promotion of members’ studies on the Center website to enhance participant recruitment.
• Promotion of members’ work via Center website and member newsletter.
• Access to Center network of University and community partners to engage in collaborative efforts.