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All News UNC Nutrition Research Institute Seeks Proposals for its Grab and Go Café (more) KANNAPOLIS - The UNC Nutrition Research Institute located at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis solicits proposals from vendors interested in operating a Grab and Go Café on its first floor. In exchange for exclusive use of the 440 square feet space, the university is interested in a turnkey arrangement with a third party vendor, whereby the vendor takes care of compliance with health department regulations and inspections, maintains liability insurance, maintains a suitable inventory of agreed upon food products, posts and maintains operating hours per mutual agreement, and provides staffing to operate the facility. The Café is equipped with refrigerated display cabinets, a commercial coffee maker, a carbonated beverage machine, a cappuccino maker, a hotdog grill, and a food warmer. It comes with a 200 square feet work room/storage area containing refrigerated storage, dry goods storage, and an industrial sink. Utilities will be included in this arrangement. The vendor will need to provide a cash register. This space is designed for the sale of pre-packaged foods only. There is no on-site kitchen available for cooking. Although the Grab and Go Café in the UNC Nutrition Research Building is open to the public, the primary customer base is the North Carolina Research Campus community. Currently, 153 people work in the UNC Nutrition Research Building, the adjacent Plants for Human Health Institute building and the David H. Murdock Core Laboratory Building. The Rowan Cabarrus Community College building is scheduled to open in August, 2010. We estimate that at any given time during the day, Rowan Cabarrus Community College will have at least 200 faculty, students, and staff. There is no particular format for proposals or letters of interest. However, UNC requests that the following items be addressed: 1) proposed hours of operation, 2) types of food to be provided, 3) marketing, 4) staffing, 5) insurance, 6) health department regulatory compliance, 7) pricing, and 8) expectations/requirements from the UNC Nutrition Research Institute. If you would like additional information, please contact Jana Harrison, Deputy Director for Research Administration at jana_harrison@unc.edu or 704-250-5004. Proposals are due no later than 5pm on July 27, 2010. NRI Study Aims to Determine Cause of Male Infertility (more) Almost half of male infertility cases have no known cause. Research being done in our area may be able to provide some answers. The study is being conducted at the NC Research Campus in Kannapolis. “This is a project that I’ve been trying to get up and running for a while now,” said Amy Johnson, a PhD student at UNC Chapel Hill. Johnson first started studying mice and found a link between a certain gene and infertility. “We found that if you delete the choline dehydrogenase gene males are infertile,” she said. Jordan and her team are now working to find out if the same is true for humans. For the research, they need volunteers to provide samples of blood and semen. Volunteers will be paid $50 for participating in the study. In addition to determining a possible cause, the research may lead to a possible cure for a type of male infertility. “It could be that men that have their share of these variants might have different dietary requirements for choline, which is an essential nutrient,” Johnson said. For more information about the study, call 919-966-0245 or email sperm_study@unc.edu UNC Nutrition Research Institute Study Reveals Choline-Rich Diet Increases Blood Vessel Development in Fetal Brain (more)
For Immediate Release – July 20, 2010 KANNAPOLIS- Prenatal diets lacking in choline—an essential nutrient that is part of all cell membranes— form fewer blood vessels in the brains of developing fetuses, according to a mouse study by UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) scientists. These findings, published in the journal, “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,” could be of great importance to women. According to NRI Director Steven Zeisel, MD, PhD, “most pregnant women in the United States have diets that are choline deficient – only 14% of expecting mothers in the US are eating enough choline in their diet.” Pregnant women with the lowest amount of choline are four times more likely to have babies with birth defects than are women who eat the most. Choline-rich foods include milk, egg yolks, soybeans, beef, chicken, peanuts, wheat germ, flax seeds, sesame seeds, potatoes, cauliflower, lentils, and oats. To test whether choline directly affects fetal blood vessel formation, Zeisel, and colleagues fed choline-deficient and control diets to pregnant mice and then examined the brains of the pups. The researchers report that choline-deficient fetal mice had fewer hippocampal blood vessels than the control group that were fed a normal diet. In addition, the choline-deficient diet correlated to high levels of two growth factors that regulate new blood vessel formation. This research complements previous studies that link low choline in diet to a decreased production of nerve cells in the brain of fetal mice, caused because choline regulates the genes that make stem cells divide. About NRI The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI), part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is located on the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis. The NRI is dedicated to developing the field of individualized nutrition — understanding variance in people’s DNA, metabolism and nutrient requirements and how this impacts health. Long term, the NRI’s discoveries will lead to individually tailored nutrition recommendations that will allow people to customize their diets in order to maximize wellness and reduce risk of disease. For more information on the UNC Nutrition Research Institute, or to schedule an interview, contact Beverly Jordan at 704-250-5008 or Beverly_jordan@unc.edu.
UNC Nutrition Research Institute Charles L. Dayvault Memorial Fund Established to Support UNC NRI (more) For Immediate Release – June 30, 2010 Community Leader’s Legacy Will Contribute to Future of Public Health The Charles L. Dayvault Memorial Fund has been established at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) in Kannapolis to support the development of individualized nutrition – the study of why metabolism and nutrient requirements differ from person to person. The fund has been created to honor Charles L. Dayvault, who died on June 17, 2010. Dayvault’s son and daughter-in-law, Gregg and Leslie Dayvault, together with grandson, Ryan Dayvault, established the fund at the UNC NRI to honor Charles’ love of the people and community of Kannapolis. Dayvault was the grandson of Paul Monroe Dayvault who owned the 72 acres of farmland in Kannapolis. This farmland was purchased by Mr. J.W. Cannon in 1905, who built Cannon Mills and Town Lake. The property is now home to the North Carolina Research Campus Core Lab. In 1942, Dayvault met Martha “Polly” Allman near the lake in Kannapolis Town Park and the two married in October, 1945. He had been working since age 11 – first at Dayvault’s Esso Station, then at Beaver Lumber Company, Cannon Mills, Akers Motor Lines and later at Bob and Chick Esso Distributors. In 1991, Dayvault retired from Propst Brothers Distributors. He had also volunteered as a special deputy with the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department for 20 years. Dayvault’s grandson, Ryan, who works at the NRI, shares that his grandfather was saddened to see the mill and lake demolished, but he was very interested in the vision and mission of the campus. Ryan states, “My grandfather’s love of this community, ties to the land, and hope for the future is what really inspired us to create the fund in his memory. He was optimistic that the campus growth and pioneering research being conducted could help revitalize Kannapolis and benefit future generations.” Norris Dearmon, long-time friend and Kannapolis historian, said, “Charles was a great friend. We’ve lost a lot of this town’s history in his passing. He lived and worked in Kannapolis his entire life and his knowledge of his ancestors and the beginnings of Kannapolis, is so important to our written records today." If you are interested to learn how you can help the NRI conduct critical research, visit uncnri.org/MakeAGift.asp. You can help make a difference. 2010 Art Contest Winners Announced (more) The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) hosted the 2010 Student Art Contest, in which students used their talents to depict metabolism, energy, and how nutrition contributes to overall health and wellness. Through this art contest and it's theme, "What Revs Up Your Metabolism?" the UNC NRI encouraged students, their parents, and teachers to think about health and nutrition in new and creative ways and challenged them to become more active and energetic and educate them about the effects metabolism can have in their bodies through healthy diet and exercise. 9 winners were selected from more than 90 eligible student entries from public, private and home schools in Cabarrus, Rowan, Mecklenburg and Iredell counties. Institute Director, Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD, presented awards to the winners in front of a crowd of over 60 student participants and their families at the NRI. "We are pleased to share the tremendous talent of all of the participants and look forward to displaying their art work in our building. The NRI is committed to engaging students on many levels and this art contest is just another way for us to expose students to the research happening here." Grand Prize Winner: Miguel Angel Olivares Robledo - A. L. Brown High School Kindergarten - 4th Grades 1st Place: Penelli Yang - Harrisburg Elementary School 5th - 8th Grades 1st Place: Julianne Pomnitz - Concord Middle School 9th - 12th Grades 1st Place: Itzal Mondragon Felipe - A. L. Brown High School UNC NRI Welcomes Renowned International Scientist to Advance Research on Personalized Nutrition (more) For Immediate Release – June 18, 2010 The UNC Nutrition Research Institute in Kannapolis, NC is continuing growth trends, demonstrating an increasing level of activity and development. One example of this growth is internationally-renowned researcher and accomplished author, Martin Kohlmeier, M.D., Ph.D., who is relocating to Kannapolis to join the NRI team. Dr. Kohlmeier brings with him an impressive professional resume. He earned doctorates in medicine, biochemistry and clinical biochemistry from Heidelberg University and Freie Universität, Berlin, has authored a comprehensive textbook on nutrient metabolism, and is the lead author of numerous online nutrition courses for healthcare professionals. In addition to his new role as faculty and primary investigator in the NRI Nutrigenetics Laboratory, Dr. Kohlmeier will maintain his appointment as a Research Professor with the Department of Nutrition, UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Medicine and School of Public Health. Dedicated to helping the public benefit from the recent advancements in genetics and nutrition, Dr. Kohlmeier explains, “We can now read the body’s DNA blueprint down to very fine details and I want to help translate this knowledge into practical directions for people’s health. For instance, I am currently developing software that can take detailed genetic information and tell consumers which foods are healthiest for them.” Dr. Kohlmeier is now developing ways to reduce breast cancer risk by using genetic research to guide food selections. “I want to find out whether we can help each individual navigate safely their daily food choices and how that might affect cancer risk.” Recognizing the trends toward online education, Dr. Kohlmeier has developed a website that can help tailor personalized nutrition plans, based on user and health professional’s input. With this data, the site suggests daily menu plans that meet personal needs. The website is now available for pilot testing by health professionals who leverage it to generate menu plans. Ultimately, consumers will be able to use this online tool to shape their diet patterns. Also, the tool will be used in long-term trials of personalized nutrition plans for the prevention of cancer and other major diseases. This and other medical nutrition education online programs by Dr. Kohlmeier have proven to be very successful for physicians. Dr. Kohlmeier explains, “About 25% of all US medical students currently use our programs, and more than 150 universities worldwide.” Notably, Dr. Kohlmeier authored Nutrient Metabolism, a textbook describing how the body handles about one hundred important compounds in food, from alcohol to zinc, and back from zeaxanthin to arsenic. The textbook outlines the major food sources of these compounds, and additional related information, such as our chemical senses, appetite and thirst, and the nutrient path from food to the using body part. The strength of the book is that a rich collection of information on each of the food ingredients is easily accessible in one place, making it a powerful resource for researchers, health professionals, and anyone needing nutrition facts at their fingertips. Dr. Steven Zeisel, Director of the NRI, shares, “Dr. Kohlmeier is one of the world’s leaders in laboratory diagnostics, nutritional genetics and use of technology for nutritional education. He brings more than thirty years experience to the NRI, and he will contribute a significant amount of research leadership to the Institute.” Dr. Kohlmeier is equally eager to begin his contribution to the NRI, stating, “The NRI offers an exciting opportunity to use state-of-the-art technology, collaborate with world-class researchers and share a focus on individualized nutrition.” You can help make a difference With each new researcher that joins the NRI team, the benefits to future public health are exponential. To recruit top-flight researchers like Dr. Kohlmeier and build the world’s next premier institute for scientific discovery, the NRI must compete with other science centers and universities. Visiting scholar programs, endowed professorships, and competitive research funds that attract distinguished scientists to the NRI are made possible by the generous gifts of friends and supporters. If you are interested in helping the NRI recruit great scientists from around the world, visit UNCNRI.org/MakeAGift.asp to learn about ways you can help make a difference. UNC NRI Partners with International Researcher from Keimyung University, Korea (more) For Immediate Release – June 30, 2010 The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) in Kannapolis, NC welcomes Dr. Seung-Wan Ryu, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Ryu, Associate Professor in Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at the Keimyung University School of Medicine in Korea, is visiting the NRI to collaborate on cutting edge nutrition research, critical to his role as Director of the Nutritional Support Team at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center. Dr. Ryu joined the NRI in September 2009 to focus on how nutrition impacts stomach cancer. Specifically, Dr. Ryu is studying whether dietary choline, found in eggs and other foods, influences the growth of blood vessels needed to support tumor growth. Dr. Ryu and Dr. Steven Zeisel M.D., Ph.D., Director of the NRI, are collaborating on this research. Dr. Ryu shares, “I am very grateful for Dr. Zeisel’s active support of my work on all possible occasions. All the staff and scientists at the NRI are so kind and their passion for learning is amazing.” Dr. Ryu explains that as a University Professor in Korea, he is provided the opportunity to study abroad for one to two years, funded by a specialized Keimyung University scholarship. The study of nutritional support of cancer patients is still evolving, and Dr. Ryu explains that his time with the NRI affords his team in Korea significant research collaboration and clinical application opportunity. He intends to continue the relationship after his return home, sharing, “I will introduce our research to Korean and other doctors using an international conference, and will continue nutritional research on the basis of my NRI experience. I will want to remain in contact with the NRI forever.” Dr. Ryu has become an integral partner in the NRI choline lab over the past few months, as Dr. Zeisel states, “We are thrilled to host such a dedicated and promising scholar who is well-positioned to develop international research partnerships for years to come. Dr. Ryu is a bright young scientist, and I appreciate his collaboration, both here at the NRI this year, as well as on longer term research projects.” With his family, a wife and two young children, Dr. Ryu moved to America last September, living abroad for the first time. They held some concern about the move, as few Koreans live in this area, and they prepared for an obvious language barrier and cultural difference. However, the Ryu family has found a helpful embrace by the locals. “Everyone is so kind. We really enjoy American life, and now have many American friends who really want to help us. I will recommend the NRI and this area to other doctors who want to study nutrition.” Unlike Dr. Ryu, many young scientists do not have a scholarship opportunity from their home university or local government. If you are interested in helping a young scholar like Dr. Ryu partner with the NRI toward critical research, visit uncnri.org/MakeAGift.asp to learn about the NRI’s Great Scientist Recruitment Fund. NRI receives gift to fund Balchem Scholarship (more) March 2010 UNC NRI Appetite for Life series news articles (more) February 2010 New epigenetic study linking maternal diet and brain development in gestating mice, Mihai George Mehedint, M.D. (more) January 2010 Steven Zeisel, M.D., Ph.D. presents research at Harvard's 11th Annual Postgraduate Nutrition Symposium (more) July 2009 North Carolina People with Bill Friday interviews Steven Zeisel, M.D., Ph.D. (more) June 2009 Steven Zeisel, M.D., Ph.D. delivers prestigious W.O. Atwater Lecture at 2009 Experimental Biology Meeting (more) April 2009 The People's Pharmacy interviews Steven Zeisel, M.D., Ph.D. (more) April 2009 Steven Zeisel, M.D., Ph.D. on the Oprah Show (more) March 2009 |
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