Our Center

The Center of Excellence in Obesity and Cardiometabolic Research (COCR) is a research hub dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary discovery in obesity and cardiometabolic health. Originally established in 2013 as the Obesity Research Cluster and formally approved as the Obesity Research Institute (ORI) in 2019, the center was renamed COCR in 2025 to reflect its expanded scope and strategic alignment with the Institute for One Health Innovation (IOHI). COCR brings together investigators from Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to conduct innovative basic, clinical, and community-engaged research aimed at understanding the causes and complications of obesity, developing effective prevention and treatment strategies, and training the next generation of scientists and health professionals.