Model
We have organized program areas of investigators to approach the many topics and issues pertinent to the problem of obesity. We have chosen not to create a specific minority/ethnicity program area, because we believe, and have shown through our past work, that science and public health are best advanced through integrated efforts. A large number of our intervention and epidemiological studies focus on issues specifically relevant to lower income populations and race-ethnic minorities. Our conceptualization of the way the program areas will work together is illustrated below. This is the ultimate goal, if we are to make a major impact on the obesity epidemic—which we have yet to do.
The foundation for the IDOC is an outstanding team of program area leaders who are already engaged in the collaborative enterprise. We will judge our success by new models that emanate from our efforts and our expectation that they will lead to rapid acceleration of new knowledge about etiology and the translation of knowledge into interventions and interventions into improved health. While not all the key people involved in this effort have focused their careers on dietary, physical activity, or obesity issues, all proposed leaders have track records in this area as well as in highly related scientific areas.
