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Our Grants

Our Grants Support Healthy Outcomes

Funding research that matters

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Treatment

We help improve access to quality care and effective treatment of obesity by eliminating policy, societal, economic and medical barriers.

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Research

We help end the obesity epidemic by sponsoring scientific research grants regarding bariatric surgical procedures and improvement of post surgical outcomes.

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Education

We work to increase awareness and understanding of obesity by educating the public on the prevention and treatment options available.

Grantee Spotlight

Meet the people making the breakthroughs

“My hope is that our work, and future work in conjunction with heart-failure related clinical trials, will support the utilization of metabolic surgery as treatment for obesity-associated heart failure .”

Tammy Kindel, MD, PhD, FACS, FASMBS
Recipient of the 2016 Research Grant

Study The effect of sleeve gastrectomy on obesity induced heart failure in rats.

Currently Dr. Kindel is the Associate Professor, Division of Minimally Invasive & Gastrointestinal Surgery, Medical Director, Bariatric Surgery Program, Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

ASMBS Research Grants

Funded by TREO Foundation

TREO Foundation is working with ASMBS to solve the obesity problem by sponsoring scientific research grants concerning bariatric surgical procedures and improvement of post surgical outcomes.

2022

Vance Albaugh

Vance Albaugh, MD, PhD

Functional Brain Imaging Characterization of Weight Regain and Weight Loss Maintenance Patients following Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery

Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is the most effective obesity treatment, though the mechanisms underlying its marked weight loss compared to dietary/behavioral approaches remain unclear. Despite its efficacy, however, weight regain can occur. Although weight regain can result from anatomic failure (e.g. gastro-gastric fistula), regain is typically multifactorial (e.g. environment, behavioral stressors, new diagnoses). Surgical treatment for weight regain is increasing1, but understanding weight regain physiology and how surgical treatment alters that physiology remains poorly understood. Better understanding of weight regain physiology and MBS treatments remains critically important.

2021

Christine Finck, MD

Evaluation of the Increased Susceptibility of Obese Pediatric Patients to SARS CoV-2 Infection

To understand the role obesity contributes to COVID infection

2021

Lisa R. Matero, MD, PhD, ABPP

Cannabis Use after Bariatric Surgery

To reveal whether patients who undergo bariatric surgery are at increased risk for developing a post-surgical cannabis use disorder and will also shed light on whether cannabis use affects post-surgical weight loss and medical comorbidities. To guide programmatic recommendations and monitoring to help optimize outcomes for patients pursuing bariatric surgery and to support future grant applications including identifying distal and proximal predictors of cannabis use, as well as, development of technology-based interventions to reduce substance use and problematic eating behaviors to optimize weight loss outcomes.

2021

Arthur Carlin, MD, FACS, FASMBS

Cannabis Use after Bariatric Surgery

To reveal whether patients who undergo bariatric surgery are at increased risk for developing a post-surgical cannabis use disorder and will also shed light on whether cannabis use affects post-surgical weight loss and medical comorbidities. To guide programmatic recommendations and monitoring to help optimize outcomes for patients pursuing bariatric surgery and to support future grant applications including identifying distal and proximal predictors of cannabis use, as well as, development of technology-based interventions to reduce substance use and problematic eating behaviors to optimize weight loss outcomes.

2019

Alfredo D. Guerron, MD

Short-Term Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Systemic Inflammation in Obese Asthma

To not only elucidate the immediate benefits of bariatric surgery in asthma but also achieve important insights that can better aid understanding of the mechanism by which these procedures improve the disease in obese patients.

2019

Kunoor Jain-Spangler, MD

Short-Term Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Systemic Inflammation in Obese Asthma

To not only elucidate the immediate benefits of bariatric surgery in asthma but also achieve important insights that can better aid understanding of the mechanism by which these procedures improve the disease in obese patients.

2018

Ali Aminian, MD, FACS, FAXMBS

Does Bariatric Surgery-Induced Shift in Gut Microbiome Provide Metabolic Benefit?

Is gut microbiome involved in improvement of diabetes and NAFLD/NASH after RYGB and SG surgeries? Can change in the microbiome after RYGB and SG protect against diabetes and NAFLD/NASH in susceptible animals?

2017

Matthew Fourman, MD

Surface Electromyography (EMG) as a Measure of Surgeon Muscle Fatigue During Robotic and Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgical Procedures

To conduct original research comparing bariatric robotic procedures against bariatric laparoscopic bariatric procedures and the effect on surgeon fatigue and discomfort.

2017

Jayleen Grams, MD

Skeletal health and bariatric surgery patients

To understand the metabolic and microbiome differences between obese patients with metabolic syndrome and healthy obese patients.

2017

Niketa Patel, PhD

RYGB Improves Insulin Resistance via Sirt-1 and Gas5

The liver plays a central role in obesity-induced insulin resistance and normalization of blood glucose in the immediate period following RYGB. We sought to understand the genetic pathways which underlie resolution of insulin resistance and blood glucose levels.

2017

Michel Murr, MD

RYGB Improves Insulin Resistance via Sirt-1 and Gas5

The liver plays a central role in obesity-induced insulin resistance and normalization of blood glucose in the immediate period following RYGB. We sought to understand the genetic pathways which underlie resolution of insulin resistance and blood glucose levels.

2016

Lauren Bradley, PhD

The Investigation of a Remotely-delivered Behavioral Intervention for Postoperative Weight Regain

The objective of the study is to evaluate a newly developed Internet-delivered (via e-learning modules) acceptance-based behavioral intervention (ABTi) for individuals who are experiencing weight regain post-surgery. We are assessing ABTi’s efficacy on stopping and/or reversing weight by comparing it to a wait-list control (WLC) condition. We are also evaluating its effect on targeted weight control behaviors and acceptance-based skills. Finally, we are examining the relationship between weight outcomes and changes in process variables through exploratory analyses.

2016

Alfonso Toquati, MD

The Investigation of a Remotely-delivered Behavioral Intervention for Postoperative Weight Regain

The objective of the study is to evaluate a newly developed Internet-delivered (via e-learning modules) acceptance-based behavioral intervention (ABTi) for individuals who are experiencing weight regain post-surgery. We are assessing ABTi’s efficacy on stopping and/or reversing weight by comparing it to a wait-list control (WLC) condition. We are also evaluating its effect on targeted weight control behaviors and acceptance-based skills. Finally, we are examining the relationship between weight outcomes and changes in process variables through exploratory analyses.

2015

Mohamed Ali

Gut Microbiota and Their Xeno-Metabolites: Associations with MetabolicHealth of Women Undergoing Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass

To understand the metabolic and microbiome differences between obese patients with metabolic syndrome and healthy obese patients.

2014

Sabrena Noria, MD

Determinates of Diabetes Remission after Bariatric Surgery and the Role of Gut Hormones and Aging

To evaluate the importance of the gut hormone response to age-associated diabetes remission following the two most prevalent bariatric surgery procedures performed today, laparoscopic RYGB (LRYGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG).

ASMBS Integrated Health Research Grants

Funded by TREO Foundation

This grant is given to the health care provider who demonstrates excellence in bariatric surgery research, and whose research/presentation has valuable implications for the Integrated Health professional practicing in the field.

Current Grant Recipients

1st Place

Afton Cobal

Afton Koball, PhD, ABPP
Food cravings in the first year after Bariatric Surgery: Sleeve Gastrectomy versus Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

2nd Place

Dale Bond

Dale Bond, PhD
Pain in Adversely Related to Weight Loss Maintenance Following Bariatric Surgery

Past Grant Recipients

2018-2019
Graham Thomas, PhD

2017
1st: Molly Orcutt, DO
2nd: William Gourash, PhD

2016
1st: Sarah Sabrudin, MD
2nd: Megan McVay, PhD

2015
1st: Melissa Kalarchian, PhD
2nd: Paul Lorentz, MS, RN, RD, BBA

2014
1st: James Mitchell, MD
2nd: Christopher Daigle, MD

2013
1st: Dale Bond, PhD
2nd: Jonathan Carter, MD

2012
1st: Wendy King, PhD
2nd: Conor Magee, MD

2011
1st: Paul Lorentz, MS, RN, RD
2nd: Nestor de la Cruz-Munoz, MD

ASMBS International Grant Program

Funded by TREO Foundation

The ASMBS has developed this International Grant to encourage, support and acknowledge surgeons from tier two and three countries who have overcome financial hurdles and acknowledges them with a monetary gift and waived registration to the ASMBS Annual Meeting.

Current Grant Recipients

2022

Jerry Dang

Jerry Dang, MD

Past Grant Recipients

2022-2023
Jerry Dang, MD, PhD
Canada

2019-2020
Catherine Tsai, MD
Taiwan

2018-2019
Mahir M Ozmen, MD
Turkey

2017-2018
Stephen Axer, MD
Sweden

2016-2017
Carlos Zerrweck Lopez
Mexico

2015-2016
Miguel Herrera, MD, PhD
Mexico

2014-2015
Elie Ramly, MD
Lebanon

2013-2014
Marcos A Berry
Chile

Bryan Woodward Community Grants

Funded by TREO Foundation

The Bryan Woodward Community Grant Program was founded to support local initiatives in addressing the obesity epidemic in cities that host a Walk from Obesity. Preference is given to those who participated in the Walk from Obesity. Grants are awarded in amounts of $5,000 or less.

Selected Grant Recipients

Overlake Foundation

BodyWorks is a program for parents and caregivers of young adolescent girls that focuses on helping girls ages nine to thirteen years and their families create healthier lifestyles.

Middle Tennessee State University

This program was designed to educate university students on the importance of combating obesity with walking and strength training, Young people at college age are in one of the biologically best times to instill a rational and positive lifestyle habit.

Past Grant Recipients

Children’s Center for Weight Management, Birmingham, AL.

Christus Schumpert Health System Foundation, Shreveport, LA.

The Faces of Hope – Richmond, VA.

Middle Tennessee State University Foundation, Nashville

Orvis Risner Elementary School, Edmond, OK.

The Overlake Hospital Foundation, Bellevue, WA.

Slidell, LA Memorial Hospital Foundation

YMCA of Greater Des Moines