Commonly referred to as the “chemistry of life,” metabolism is the process by which the body uses food and oxygen to produce the energy and chemicals needed for essential functions and processes that constitute life. While diabetes and obesity may be the most well known disorders tied to metabolism, other disorders affected by imbalances in metabolism include problems in aging, brain and neural development, cardiovascular disease, immunology and cancer.
The renaissance can be seen at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where an estimated 100-plus scientists, including Biochemistry Professors’ Alan Attie and Dave Pagliarini, are studying core aspects of metabolism, and many others have some peripheral connection. It’s the impetus for a new initiative led by the Morgridge Institute for Research to provide leadership, infrastructure and community building in the field.