Overview
The UChicago RECORE Center is a collaborative research hub advancing the science and care of obesity, cardiometabolic disease, and related conditions.
We unite experts in endocrinology, obesity medicine, cardiology, electrophysiology, oncology, and psychiatry to explore the impact of anti-obesity medications on metabolic disease, cardiovascular outcomes, atrial fibrillation, addiction, and cancer.
Our mission is to accelerate clinical research by providing a central platform where providers, patients, and community partners can easily find and join active studies. Each trial is listed with a brief description and contact information to simplify referrals and participation.
Through partnerships across the University of Chicago and outreach to community organizations, we aim to expand access, raise awareness, and foster engagement in research that transforms lives
Meet the RECORE Team
Andrew Beaser, MD
Dr. Andrew Beaser, MD, specializes in cardiac electrophysiology, which is the diagnosis and management of heart rhythm disorders. He also specializes in device management for patients who need pacemakers and defibrillators to regulate their heart rhythm.
Silvana Pannain, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Dr. Pannain, Associate Professor and Vice-President of the Illinois Obesity Society, directs Obesity Medicine, leads weight loss trials, investigates disease-modifying effects of anti-obesity medications, and advances public health policies in MASLD/MASH.
Casey Droske
Casey Droske is a Clinical Research Coordinator II and has been with the University of Chicago since 2021. She has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Psychology and experience in behavioral randomized control trials.
Kie Mun Ng
Kie Mun Ng is a Clinical Research Coordinator with experience as a cGMP lab technician and research technologist, passionate about patient safety, regulatory compliance, and the ethical conduct of clinical trials.
Shahram Sarrafi
Shahram Sarrafi is a senior clinical research coordinator. He earned his master's degree from Rush University Medical College - Division of Translational Science, and he is also ECFMG certified. His research focuses on cardiac arrhythmias.
Stephanie Sintetas
Elbert S. Huang, MD MPH FACP
Dr. Huang is an international leader in the care of diabetes in older adults. His research has reshaped contemporary geriatric guidelines that emphasize personalized diabetes treatment, management of geriatric conditions, and hypoglycemia prevention.
Megan Huisingh-Scheetz, MD MPH AGSF FGSA
Megan Huisingh-Scheetz, MD, MPH, AGSF, FGSA is a geriatrician and clinical researcher who studies the use of technology to advance frailty assessment and management and in conducting trials in frail older adults.
Silvana Pannain, MD
Dr. Pannain, Associate Professor and Vice-President of the Illinois Obesity Society, directs Obesity Medicine, leads weight loss trials, investigates disease-modifying effects of anti-obesity medications, and advances public health policies in MASLD/MASH.
Casey Droske
Casey Droske is a Clinical Research Coordinator II and has been with the University of Chicago since 2021. She has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Psychology and experience in behavioral randomized control trials.
Jacqueline Kanoon, MBA, MPH
Jacqueline Kanoon, MBA, MPH manages Dr. Huang’s research in older adults with type 2 diabetes, including trial design, implementation, regulatory submissions, presentations and publications.
Erin Hanlon, PhD
Erin C. Hanlon, Ph.D. is a behavioral neuroscientist - primary research interests have included the detrimental effects of sleep loss and how sleep benefits health, with particular focus on the links between sleep deficiency, obesity, and diabetes.
Kenneth Lee, MD
Dr. Kenneth Lee is a neurologist specializing in sleep medicine and clinical medical director of the UChicago Sleep Center, focusing on sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea and narcolepsy and links between sleep and metabolic health.
Silvana Pannain, MD
Dr. Pannain, Associate Professor and Vice-President of the Illinois Obesity Society, directs Obesity Medicine, leads weight loss trials, investigates disease-modifying effects of anti-obesity medications, and advances public health policies in MASLD/MASH.
Stephanie Sintetas
Daniel Fridberg, PhD
Dr. Fridberg studies individual differences influencing alcohol and tobacco use. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, his work investigates whether anti-obesity GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs can aid in reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption.
Jon Grant, MD
Jon E. Grant directs a clinic and research lab on addictive, compulsive and impulsive disorders. Professor Grant is the author of over 500 peer-reviewed scientific articles, 15 books, and his research has been supported by NIMH and NIDA.
Silvana Pannain, MD
Dr. Pannain, Associate Professor and Vice-President of the Illinois Obesity Society, directs Obesity Medicine, leads weight loss trials, investigates disease-modifying effects of anti-obesity medications, and advances public health policies in MASLD/MASH.
Laurie Avila
Laurie is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Addictive, Compulsive, and Impulsive Disorders (ACID) Lab, where she helps manage various clinical trials under the direction of Dr. Jon E. Grant.
Claire Wellendorf
Claire Wellendorf is a Lab Coordinator working under Dr. King to investigate the potential for GLP-1 RAs to alter reward-related behaviors, specifically alcohol and tobacco consumption.
Christine Bestvina, MD
Dr. Bestvina is a thoracic oncologist at the UChicago. She leads multiple lung cancer clinical trials focused on immunotherapy-radiation synergy and has contributed to early drug development in targeted therapies for non-small and small cell lung cancer.
Marina Chiara Garassino, MD
Dr. Marina Garassino leads the thoracic oncology program. An international leader in immuno-oncology and precision medicine, she has advanced thoracic malignancy research, authored 340+ publications, and shaped global oncology initiatives.
Silvana Pannain, MD
Dr. Pannain, Associate Professor and Vice-President of the Illinois Obesity Society, directs Obesity Medicine, leads weight loss trials, investigates disease-modifying effects of anti-obesity medications, and advances public health policies in MASLD/MASH.