Announcing a new Director of the University of Washington Nutrition and Obesity Research Center

Announcing a new Director of the University of Washington Nutrition and Obesity Research Center

Dear colleagues,
 
We are pleased to announce that effective September 1, 2021, Dr. Ellen Schur, MD, MS, has assumed the Director position of the UW Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC).  Previously directed by Dr. Michael Schwartz, MD, the UW NORC is an NIH-funded P30 Center that supports basic, clinical, and translational research at UW related to nutrition, obesity, and related metabolic disturbances. Dr. Schur has been a member of the UW NORC Executive Committee since 2012 and the UW NORC Associate Director since 2020.
 
Dr. Schur has over 15 years of experience as an independent investigator performing clinical and translational research. Her work focuses on central nervous system contributions to human eating behavior, appetite regulation, and obesity pathogenesis. In addition to Directing the overall Center, Dr. Schur is the Core Director for the UW NORC Clinical and Translational Research Services Core.
 
A note from Dr. Schur: “I am honored and humbled to become Director of the UW NORC. Metabolism research at the UW has a storied history of discovery, and I am following in the footsteps of renowned scientists in the field. Over the nearly 40-year history of the UW NORC, obesity and poor nutritional quality have remained recalcitrant public health issues. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced for me the urgency of making progress in our field. I am devoted to supporting our investigators who are pursuing a better understanding of mechanisms underlying obesity pathogenesis as well as effective preventive strategies, interventions, and policies to improve nutrition and combat the health effects of obesity at the individual, community, and population level. I look forward to engaging with the vibrant and diverse community of UW investigators to make progress toward these goals.”
 
Dr. Schur is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine.
 
Dr. Schwartz will continue his participation in the UW NORC as the Associate Director.
 
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Schur.