Emory’s GCRC nutrition resources include a metabolic kitchen, an outpatient feeding system, and a body composition lab. The goals to justify a body composition lab included:

1. To enhance nutrition research studies.
2. To provide a resource for existing investigators.
3. To recruit new investigators.
4. To train of medical students and PhD nutrition graduate students.
5. Incentives for dissertation-based research.
6. For objective assessment of health status.

The preliminary assessments included:

1. Determination of investigator needs (need at least 3 users).
2. Evaluation of current methodology.
3. Determine existing equipment resources.
4. Assess space availability, staffing adequacy, and cost analysis.

The proposed equipment included a:

1. BOD POD (For body composition)
2. Hydrostatic weighing tank (for % body fat and fat-free mass; no size limitations),
3. DeltaTrac indirect calorimeter
4. Treadmill (VO2 max), e) a hydra ECF/ICF BIA system (body cell mass, total body water)
5. Anthropometry station

Kay was able to get 1.5 FTE’s dietary positions approved through the additional workload of running the body comp lab; she had asked for 2.25 FTE’s.