With obesity at epidemic proportions worldwide, obesity research has become a much needed area of study. The ASMBS Foundation is helping to solve the obesity problem by sponsoring scientific research grants concerning bariatric surgical procedures and improvement of post surgical outcomes.

Current projects funded by the ASMBS Foundation include:

• Marc Bessler, MD:
  Effects of Obesity on Airway Inflammation and Asthma

• Daniel R. Cottam, MD:
  Oncologic Effects of Morbid Obesity on Apoptotic Markers and Tumor Growth Factors before and after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Adjustable Gastric Banding

• Ronald K. Evans, PhD:
  Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA,
  Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction following Gastric Bypass Surgery: The Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Vascular Health

• Melissa A. Kalarchian, PhD:
  University of Pittsburgh
  Optimizing Long-Term Weight Control after Bariatric Surgery

• Samar Mattar, MD:
  Pharmacodynamic Study of Fondaparinux Dosing in the Morbidly Obese

• Mary-Elizabeth Patti, MD:
  Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA
  Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia Following Gastric Bypass:  Pathophysiology and Molecular Mechanism

• Drew Rideout, MD:
  University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
  Adiponectin Improves Steatohepatitis in Obese Rats After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

• Stanley J. Rogers, MD:
  Nutrient Absorption in Morbidly Obese Patients before and after Gastric Bypass Surgery

• Marzieh Salehi, MD:
  The Role of Glucagon like Peptide-1 in Glucose Metabolism and Weight Loss Following Gastric Bypass Surgery

• David B. Sarwer, PhD:
  University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
  Improvements in Reproductive Status Following Bariatric Surgery

• Albert T. Spaw, MD:
  Comparison of 21mm and 25mm Circular Stapled Anastomosis in Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

The challenges of today’s obesity epidemic are daunting and require ongoing research efforts to help meet these challenges. Recognizing the escalation in obesity and the extraordinary difficulties in its prevention and treatment the ASMBS Foundation is working with the ASMBS to take important steps to augment obesity research.

The ASMBS Research Committee accepts grant applications from November until January and recipients are announced in June of every year at the ASMBS Annual Meeting. For more information regarding research grants please visit www.asmbs.org. Applicants must be an ASMBS member.