Metabolic Clinical Research Unit
The Metabolic Clinical Research Unit (MCRU) opened in 2007 as a new unit of the National Institutes of Health’s Clinical Center. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) working closely with the Clinical Center designed the unit to house state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for the study of a wide range of metabolic clinical research studies. The unit supports protocols designed by researchers from across all institutes of the NIH involved with the investigation of the factors contributing to weight gain, obesity and associated diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even certain types of cancer. The MCRU is a key component of the NIH Strategic Plan for Obesity Research supporting a number of clinical studies that bring together experts in a wide range of fields including metabolism, endocrinology, nutrition, cardiovascular biology, gastroenterology, hepatology, genetics and behavioral sciences.
Our Mission:
To provide specialized, state-of-the-art facilities for comprehensive and collaborative research on factors driving the obesity epidemic.
Page last updated: June 11, 2009
