Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9411250017
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-22 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: Chicago Tribune MILWAUKEE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``We're really excited about this. We think it is a sign of things to come,'' said Dr. William R. Hendee, senior associate dean for research.
The project will involve a collaboration between academia and the public and private sectors: The Medical College and Rockefeller University will do the research; Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Boston will do the technical DNA work; and TOPS Clubs Inc., a nationwide nonprofit weight-loss support group based in Milwaukee, will provide the research subjects from its 300,000 membership.
``For those of us who have struggled with the pain of obesity, we would hope there would be some answer for us in our quest to keep off pounds,'' said Susan Trones, a spokeswoman for TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly).
The organization, which has been supporting obesity research at the Medical College since 1966, is contributing $1 million to the project, said a spokesman for the college.
Excessive weight is linked to three of the major fatal illnesses of the late 20th century: coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
The research project announced Monday will try to track the root causes of obesity, seeking out the gene - or genes - that may affect appetite, caloric balance and the growth of fat tissue.
``If we find that gene, the potential is there to arrest the potential of that gene,'' said Ahmed Kissebah, the Medical College obesity researcher who forged the research collaboration.
He noted that research into cholesterol identified the causative gene and led to development of medication that can control the body's cholesterol production.
The obesity study will build on research done on rodents, where genetic information was tied to obesity.
``Even in obese mice, where we know there is a genetic defect, if we put them on a diet, they lose weight. But put them back in a cage with ample foods, the ones with the defect eat to excess of energy expenditure, while the others do not,'' said Dr. Jules Hirsch, chief physician at Rockefeller University's hospital in New York City.
Genes that cause obesity originally were meant for survival in times of feast and famine, Kissebah said. ``A group of us are capable of restraining that gene,'' he said. ``The ones who become obese are those who cannot restrain it.''
Millennium is providing $1.5 million and contributions of technical work that it values at $10 million to $20 million.
by CNB