1. A collaborative model for eating research
Ellen Schur, MD, MS
Division of General Internal Medicine, Harborview Section
UW Department of Medicine

2. Interdisciplinary research in eating behavior
K23 award to explore genetic, behavioral, hormonal, and cognitive mechanisms of overeating
Initial goal was to develop an fMRI tool for identifying neuroanatomical correlates of overeating

3. Where to begin? Google functional MRI study design Read a few papers
Get some help from IBIC
Study design
Image acquisition
Data processing and analysis

7. Brain areas crucial to energy homeostasis and perception of reward are selectively attuned to visual images of fattening foods
Schur, et al, Intl J of Obesity, in press

8. Effect of a meal on activation in reward pathways
Extracted data from regions of interest for contrast of fattening > non-fattening food
Performed linear regression analysis -1 1 2 3 4 60
120
180
240
300
360
Time elapsed since meal (min.)
Mean activity (z-score)
P < 0.01
R Nucleus accumbens
P < 0.001
Midbrain
Liquid meal
Spontaneous
meal

9. Productive collaborative model
Developed tool useful for understanding the subjective experience of appetite that drives food intake
Methods paper published
2 abstracts
3 funded pilot studies
R03 and R01 applications submitted