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relates to health and aging. The link between energetics and aging is increasingly understood in terms of dysregulated mitochondrial function, altered metabolic signaling, and aberrant nutrient responsiveness with increasing age. The center offers world-class expertise in comprehensive, integrated energetic assessment and analysis from the level of the organelle to the organism and across species from the size of worms to rats as well as state-of-the-art data analytics. The range of services offered by our three research cores, (1) The Organismal Energetics Core, (2) Mitometabolism Core, and (3) Data Analytics Core, is described herein.Keywords Analytics • Aging • Energetics • Bioenergetics • Comparative biology • Metabolism • Mitochondria ogy of Aging, co-directed by Steven N. Austad and Thomas W. Buford, in collaboration with the Indiana University School of Public Health, focuses on comparative energetics and aging. For this purpose, energetics is defined as the study of the causes, mechanisms, and consequences of the acquisition, storage, and use of metabolizable energy. Comparative energetics is the study of metabolic processes at multiple Abstract The UAB Nathan Shock Center focuses on comparative energetics and aging. Energetics, as defined for this purpose, encompasses the causes, mechanisms, and consequences of the acquisition, storage, and use of metabolizable energy. Comparative energetics is the study of metabolic processes at multiple scales and across multiple species as it

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ObjectiveThe utility of zebrafish as a model of nutrition research has been limited, partly due to the lack of standardized, defined diets and non‐invasive body composition assessment technologies.MethodsFour‐ to six‐week post‐fertilization fish were randomized to 1 of 5 diets (standard: 48% protein by weight) with different protein sources (n=60 fish per diet): 1) fish protein, 2) casein, 3) soy, 4) wheat gluten and a 5) mixed protein source (all 4 combined). Fish were group housed (n≤10 fish/tank), and ad libitum (AL) fed for 12 weeks. Lengths were measured every 3 wks, and final body weight at study end. Body composition measures of lean and fat mass were performed by quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) and compared with chemical carcass analysis (fat: r2=0.59, p<0.001; lean: r2=0.65, p<0.001). Group differences were assessed by ANOVA.ResultsA significant growth difference between diet groups was observed despite AL feeding (p<0.001; shortest: wheat; lightest: wheat and casein). Percent body fat was significantly higher in fish protein and wheat fed diet groups.ConclusionFeeding defined diets with isolated protein sources revealed significant growth and body composition differences between groups – with wheat fed fish being shorter and lighter, but still relatively fat – and demonstrates the utility of a zebrafish nutrition/obesity research model. This research was supported by P30DK056336.