Before the launch of the OREI, some senior faculty were involved in obesity research in a number of departments and colleges, but there was limited interaction and UI lacked interdisciplinary/interdepartmental focus in obesity. The development of this interaction and national visibility and recognition has been and is a priority of the OREI working in a complementary partnership with the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC) and other centers at UI.

Frontiers in Obesity, Diabetes and Metabolism Seminar Series

In partnership with the FOEDRC, the OREI sponsors the Frontiers in Obesity, Diabetes and Metabolism Seminar Series, held weekly with presentations by new and senior UI faculty and a number of distinguished visiting professors. The series, originally named Diabetes and Obesity Talks, launched in January 2012. These seminars have been extraordinarily successful, with attendance ranging from 45 to 90 from across departments and colleges. Please click here for a listing of upcoming seminars.

Diabetes and Obesity Basic Research Chalk Talks

Under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Norris, the OREI and FOEDRC have partnered in launching small, informal meetings of faculty—focused on basic research—for internal review of plans for extramural research grants. An additional goal of these Chalk Talks is the development of research “community” and interaction across departments and colleges to build the foundation for future interdisciplinary research programs.

OREI Behavioral Medicine Group

The OREI Behavioral Medicine Group is an informal intercollegiate, multidisciplinary team of researchers interested in behavioral aspects of obesity and related health problems that meets at least quarterly to discuss proposals and plans for extramural research grants. Please click here for more information on the core members of OREI Behavioral Medicine Group.