Comprehensive Metabolic Phenotyping (CMP) Core, directed by Patrick Fueger, Ph.D., helps investigators systematically characterize the metabolism and physiology of mouse models related to obesity, diabetes and cancer. The assays and services in the core range from routine metabolic testing to highly specialized assays using a sophisticated surgical catheterization model that permits access to the vasculature in freely moving, conscious animals. In addition, some assays require high-end instrumentation within the core. For the latter, the core offers a 16-unit Sable Systems Promethion metabolic caging platform that contains voluntary running wheels and an EchoMRI 3-in-1 system for body and tissue composition analysis. In addition, the core has all of the surgical equipment, Harvard Apparatus infusion pumps, Alpha Trak glucose monitors, and peripheral equipment for assessing insulin release in vivo with the hyperglycemic clamp technique, which is considered the platinum standard for evaluating islet function, and quantifying insulin action in vivo using the gold standard hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique. Routine metabolic testing includes glucose, insulin and pyruvate tolerance tests and blood sampling to measure circulating hormones (e.g., insulin, C-peptide and glucagon) with ELISAs and RIAs and various metabolites (e.g., cholesterol and free fatty acids) with enzymatic assays. Finally, the core offers scientific consultation, total project management and first-pass data analysis.