Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention  (CCOP)

The Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention (CCOP) at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) is a multidisciplinary research center focused on advancing the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity and related metabolic diseases through integrated biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and community-engaged research.

Established through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) program (NIGMS COBRE P20GM109096), CCOP supports innovative and collaborative research spanning the translational spectrum — from mechanistic discovery to clinical and community implementation.

The Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention was established under the leadership of founding director Judith L. Weber, PhD, whose vision and leadership were instrumental in developing the center’s research infrastructure and multidisciplinary collaborations. Since Dr. Weber’s retirement, Dr. Elisabet Børsheim has led the Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention. She oversees the center’s multidisciplinary research, mentoring, scientific infrastructure, and translational collaborations focused on pediatric obesity prevention and metabolic health.

CCOP brings together investigators, clinicians, scientific cores, trainees, and community partners to address one of the most pressing public health challenges affecting children and families in Arkansas and across the United States.

Our Mission

CCOP’s mission is to:

• Advance innovative research focused on childhood obesity prevention and treatment
• Develop and mentor independent investigators
• Provide integrated scientific infrastructure and research support
• Foster multidisciplinary and translational collaboration
• Engage communities and stakeholders in meaningful research partnerships
• Accelerate translation of scientific discoveries into improved child health outcomes

Our Approach

CCOP integrates:

• Biomedical and mechanistic discovery research
• Clinical and translational research
• Advanced biostatistical and metabolic research infrastructure
• Community-engaged and implementation science
• Investigator mentoring and workforce development

This integrated approach allows CCOP investigators to address childhood obesity and related health outcomes across the full translational research continuum.

Research Infrastructure and Collaboration

CCOP supports investigators through integrated scientific cores, pilot funding, mentoring programs, and collaborative partnerships across Arkansas Children’s, ACRI, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center (ACNC), the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, and community organizations throughout Arkansas. 

Looking Forward

CCOP is transitioning from a COBRE-supported initiative into a sustainable, institutionally integrated center of excellence focused on pediatric obesity prevention and translational health research.

By combining biomedical innovation, advanced research infrastructure, mentorship, and authentic community partnerships, CCOP aims to improve child health outcomes in Arkansas and serve as a national model for collaborative and impactful childhood obesity research.

Institutional Centers, Institutes and Programs

• Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI)
• Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) 
• Arkansas Department of Health (ADH)
• Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE)
• University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (UARK) 
• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) 
• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) - Northwest