The Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer Centers initiative fosters collaboration across multiple disciplines and encompasses projects that cover the biology, genomics, and genetics of energy balance to behavioral, socio-cultural, and environmental influences upon nutrition, physical activity, weight, energetics, and cancer risk. It provides training opportunities for new and established scientists who can carry out integrative research on energetics and energy balance. The TREC initiative complements NCI’s energy balance research endeavors and efforts of the NIH Obesity Task Force.
2011 – 2016 NCI-funded TREC Research Centers
| University of California – San Diego San Diego, CA |
Principal Investigator Dr. Ruth Patterson |
| The TREC Research Center at the University of California, San Diego focuses on mechanisms linking obesity with breast cancer risk and conducts studies investigating obesity and lifestyle factors related to insulin resistance and inflammation using mouse models, clinical trials, and wireless and networked technologies in the community. | |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA |
Principal Investigator Dr. Kathryn Schmitz |
| The University of Pennsylvania TREC Research Center focuses on the association between energy balance and breast cancer recurrence and persistent adverse treatments effects and explores the impact of exercise and weight control interventions in cancer survivors through cost effectiveness analysis. | |
| Harvard Boston, MA |
Principal Investigator Dr. Frank Hu |
| The Harvard TREC Research Center focuses on biological mechanisms linking obesity and cancer throughout the lifespan and at multiple levels, and translating this knowledge into actionable behavioral interventions targeting children, minorities, and cancer survivors. | |
| Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO |
Principal Investigator Dr. Graham Colditz |
| The TREC Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis uses multilevel and multigenerational approaches to investigate mechanisms by which preconception diet, nutrition and built environment policies impact inactivity and how physical activity and energy balance influence body weight and carcinogenesis across the lifespan. | |
| Coordination Center - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Seattle, WA |
Principal Investigator Dr. Mark Thornquist |
| The TREC Coordination Center at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center integrates efforts across the network of individual TREC Research Centers and facilitates transdisciplinary research by supporting communication, scientific collaboration, logistical infrastructure for data management and bioinformatics, results dissemination, training, and evaluation. | |
NCI Contacts
Dr. Linda Nebeling
Chief, Health Behaviors Research Branch
Behavioral Research Program
nebelinl@mail.nih.gov
Yvonne F. Grant
Administrative Program Director & Public Health Advisor
Behavioral Research Program
granty@mail.nih.gov
View the TREC publications database
TREC Initiative Midcourse Update (PDF), March 2009
2005 – 2010 NCI-funded TREC Research Centers
| The University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN |
Principal Investigator Dr. Robert Jeffery |
| Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Seattle, WA |
Principal Investigator Dr. Anne McTiernan |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA |
Principal Investigator Dr. Michael Goran |
| Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH |
Principal Investigator Dr. Nathan Berger |
| Coordination Center - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Seattle, WA |
Principal Investigator Dr. Mark Thornquist |
