Second Short Course on Mathematical Sciences in Obesity Research

Overview

The mathematical sciences including engineering, statistics, computer science, physics, econometrics, psychometrics, epidemiology, and mathematics qua mathematics are increasingly being applied to advance our understanding of the causes, consequences, and alleviation of obesity. These applications do not merely involve routine well-established approaches easily implemented in widely available commercial software. Rather, they increasingly involve computationally demanding tasks, use and in some cases development of novel analytic methods and software, new derivations, computer simulations, and unprecedented interdigitation of two or more existing techniques. Such advances at the interface of the mathematical sciences and obesity research require bilateral training and exposure for investigators in both disciplines. This course on the mathematical sciences in obesity research features some of the world’s finest scientists working in this domain to fill this unmet need by providing nine topic driven modules designed to bridge the disciplines.

The goal of our proposed short course is to 1) expose researchers from the mathematical sciences and obesity to the language and methodology at the interface of both disciplines 2) facilitate collaborations between the two groups through effective contact and 3) to guide early investigators interested in conducting research at the interface of the mathematical sciences in obesity on the next career step.

Schedule of Events: [PDF file]

Time	Speaker	Topic	Video
Day 1 - Monday 6/22/2015
8:15 - 8:45	Diana Thomas, Montclair	Registration
8:45 - 9:45	David Allison & Andrew Brown, UAB	Introductory remarks:  A Comedy of Errors
9:45 - 10:30	Steven Heymsfield, PBRC	Overview of state of the field of obesity and mathematical sciences
10:30 - 11:30	David Allison, UAB	Overview of funding approach at NIH and other federal granting agencies
11:30 - 12:45	Lunch
Module 1: Outcomes in Obesity Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
1:00 - 1:45	David Allison, UAB	Introduction to RCTs and their quantitative analysis
2:00 - 2:45	David Allison & Peng Li, UAB	Missing data in randomized clinical trials
3:00 - 4:00	Peng Li, UAB	Cluster Randomized Trials and Accommodating Clustering in Animal Studies
4:00 - 5:30	Moderated by Senior Researchers	Roundtable Session††
Day 2 - Tuesday 6/23/2015
Module 2: Modeling weight change using energy balance
9:00 - 9:45	Diana Thomas, Montclair	Introduction to Energy Balance Models
10:00 - 10:45	Kevin Hall, NIH	Macronutrient & Energy Balance Models
11:00 - 11:30	John Apolzan, PBRC	Models delivered using smart phone technology
11:30 - 12:45	Lunch
Module 3: Modeling Policy Effect on Obesity
1:00 - 1:45	Stephen T Mennemeyer PhD, UAB	Using Simulation to Estimate Economic Effects: Examples from Cost-Effectiveness of Obesity Programs
2:00 - 2:45	Thomas Flottemesch PhD, HealthPartners	Modeling of policies for childhood and adult obesity management
3:00 - 4:00	Tapan Mehta PhD, UAB	Open problems
4:00 - 5:30	Moderated by Senior Researchers	Roundtable Session††
Day 3 - Wednesday 6/24/2015
Module 4: Modeling Obesity and Economics
9:00 - 9:45	Adam Knowlden, Univ Alabama	Overview
10:00 - 10:45	Bisakha Sen PhD, UAB	Bringing Tools from The Field of Economics to Better Understand Disparities in Obesity
11:00 - 11:30	Gregory Price, Morehouse	The Economic Anthropometry Approach to Obesity
11:30 - 12:00	Adam Knowlden, Univ Alabama	Open problems
12:00 - 1:00	Lunch
Module 5: Modeling Behaviorial Responses in Obesity
1:00 - 1:45	Diana Thomas, Montclair	Overview of the state of the field
2:00 - 2:45	Daniel Rivera, Arizona State	Dynamic modeling of weight and body composition change using the Theory of Planned Behavior and Self-Regulation
2:45 - 3:45	Corby Martin, PBRC	Open Problems
4:00 - 5:30	Moderated by Senior Researchers	Roundtable Session††
Day 4 - Thursday 6/25/2015
Module 6: Sensor Models in Obesity
9:00 - 9:30	Edward Sazonov, Alabama, Tuscaloosa	Overview of the field
9:30 - 10:30	Adam Hoover, Clemson University	Tracking Wrist Motion to Monitor Energy Intake
10:30 - 11:30	Jon Moon, MEI Research	Mathematics of room calorimeters
11:30 - 12:45	Lunch
Module 7: Scaling Laws and Obesity
1:00 - 1:20	Steven Heymsfield, PBRC	Overview of the field
1:25 - 2:05	Dave Nelson, Univ S Alabama	Allometric Scaling & Whole-Animal Energy Balances
2:10 - 2:50	Abdul-Aziz Yakubu, Howard Univ	Mathematical energetics of organisms in ecologies
3:00 - 4:00	Steven Heymsfield, PBRC	Open Problems
4:15 - 5:30	Moderated by Senior Researchers	Roundtable Session†† Preparation for student presentations
Day 5 - Friday 6/26/2015
Module 8: Statistical Modeling in Genetics
9:00 - 9:45	Hemant Tiwari, UAB	Genetic association analysis of 30 genes related to obesity in a European American population: Overview
10:00 - 10:45	Gustavo de los Campos, Michigan State University	Prediction of expected years of life using whole-genome markers
11:00 - 11:30	Audrey Hendricks, UC Denver	Methods for studying rare variants in next generation sequencing data
11:30 - 12:00	Audrey Hendricks, UC Denver	Open problems
12:00 - 1:00	Lunch
1:00 - 1:45	Student Presentations
2:00 - 2:45
3:00 - 3:30
3:30 - 4:00
4:15 - 5:30

At the end of each day of the five-day short course we will ask participants to gather in small groups led by a senior researcher from our pool of lecturers for a period of 90 min. Groups will be developed based on individual participant goals. For example, some participants may feel comfortable developing a specific aims page for an NIH K25, R03, K01, R01 or joint NSF/NIGMS Biological and Mathematical Sciences program. Others may want to collaborate across disciplines and set a second small group meeting through NIMBioS. We will provide a list of suggested activities while remaining open and flexible to the participant needs.

These options and what they will entail will be described on the first day of the short course by either the PI or co-PI. Some participants may decide to switch which round-table they are working with on the second or third day. On the fourth day, a moderator directed self-selected group of 10 participants will be chosen to present their work on the afternoon of the last day.

Contact Information:

Logistics: Richard Sarver
UAB SOPH Dean's office
Office of Energetics & Nutrition Obesity Research Center
1700 University Boulevard, LHL 434
Birmingham AL 35294-0013
Phone: (205) 975-9169
Email: rsarver@uab.edu