About COCVD

The University of Kentucky Phase III Center of Research in Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease (COCVD) is supported by a $5.7 million, five-year award (P30 GM127211) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). The NIGMS is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that supports thematic, multidisciplinary Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) across the country through its Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program.

The primary activity of the COCVD is to identify mechanisms linking the epidemic of obesity to the high incidence of cardiovascular diseases in the obese population. This research focus is used as a platform to develop promising junior investigators who serve as principal investigators on research projects that address timely and significant questions related to obesity and cardiovascular disease. COCVD has assembled a group of established extramurally funded scientists who provide mentoring for the investigators. This mentorship facilitates the development of the investigators’ research projects and enhances their success in competing for independent NIH-funded research.

As a multidisciplinary collaborative, COCVD encourages the development of research infrastructure and shared use core facilities that support and extend research methods critical to the study of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, COCVD facilitates symposia and seminars for its research participants, and awards pilot/feasibility grants to non-COCVD faculty members to initiate new research focused on obesity and cardiovascular disease.