Upcoming Events

Building A Better Lifestyle
UNC Nutrition Research Institute (500 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC)
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | 6:00 PM

Join us on Tuesday, November 19 at 6 PM at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute for Appetite for Life: Building a Better Lifestyle. The NRI will host Lifestyle Medicine at Home, a program created by Dr. Andrew Nance to create a healthier community by making positive lifestyle changes. Join us for a cooking demonstration and exclusive recipes that make healthy eating easy and affordable.

Previous Events

Exploring New Targets in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Dr. Evan Paules
Zoom | Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | Noon

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be a key factor in reducing your risk for many cancers—even breast cancer. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, join us at noon on Wednesday, October 23, for a virtual presentation by Evan Paules, PhD. Paules will discuss the links between nutrition, obesity, metabolism, and cancer. As part of the Hursting Lab at the NRI, Dr. Paules will share the lab’s research on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive form of the disease, highlighting potential therapeutic targets and emerging approaches to treatment that show promising results for reducing the harsh side effects of current therapies.

Nourish Your Knowledge with Trivia
Tipsy Hare Ciderworks (211 A West Ave. Kannapolis)
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 | 7:00 PM

Join us on Tuesday, September 24 at 7:00 PM for an evening of Nutrition Trivia at Tipsy Hare Ciderworks in downtown Kannapolis! Test your knowledge on everything from essential nutrients and healthy foods to cutting-edge research topics from the Nutrition Research Institute. Bring your friends and see who knows the most about the science of what we eat!

Fueling Pregnancy: Mom’s Metabolic Transformation
Nipun Saini, PhD
Zoom | Tuesday, August 20, 2024 | Noon

Join us for an exploration of the metabolic changes women undergo during pregnancy. Nipun Saini, PhD, an assistant professor of Nutrition at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute, will explain how a mother’s body adapts to support her growing baby. From conception to birth, Saini will explain how a woman’s diet is uniquely utilized throughout each stage of pregnancy. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of pregnancy metabolism and its implications for maternal and child health.

Nourishing Communities with Good Bowls
Alice Ammerman, DrPH
Zoom | April 17, 2024 | Noon

On April 17 we had a virtual Appetite for Life featuring guest speaker Alice Ammerman DrPH, Mildred Kaufman Distinguished Professor of Nutrition. Dr. Ammerman shared an update on Good Bowls, which aims to provide better access to nutritionally valuable food for lower-income consumers, while creating economic opportunities for local farmers and food entrepreneurs. The bowls contain healthful, locally sourced foods that are frozen for longer shelf life. Ammerman hopes the project will enhance the environmental, economic and social well-being in communities in the southeastern United States.

Wellness on the Menu: A Discussion on Nutrition and Community Health
Ramine Alexander, PhD, MPH
Zoom | March 27, 2024 | Noon

On March 27 we had an Appetite for Life, a free, public virtual event featuring Ramine Alexander, PhD, MPH. Alexander and the Living F.R.E.E. lab team explained the intricate connection between nutrition and community health and offered valuable insights on the profound impact of dietary choices on our collective well-being. 

Speed Dating with the NRI: 3-minute Nutrition Theories
Rowan Cabarrus Community College | Kannapolis, NC
February 8, 2024 at 6 PM

Last year, we heard from eight of the Nutrition Research Institute’s scientists. They explained what it is they’re investigating and why it’s so important—in just 3 minutes each!

We held this popular event again on February 8. Principal investigators, postdocs, doctoral students, and research specialists took to the mic to reveal the theories, concepts and ideas that underlie their exacting work in the laboratory and clinic. These 3-minute theory presentations are designed to effectively explain scientific research in down-to-earth language for a non-scientific audience. 

Topics included:

• Precision Nutrition
• Strategies to Minimize the Impact of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
• Preventing Childhood Obesity by Enhancing Parenting Practices and Behaviors
• Charting the Course for Individual Weight Loss
• What is Metabolomics?
• Nutrition’s Effect on Fetal Growth and Brain Development
• Individualizing Dietary Recommendations and Personalized Mobile Apps

Wellness Workshop
High Performance Training | Kannapolis, NC
January 18 at 6 PM

On January 18  we fully booked our exclusive event, Wellness Workshop, at High Performance Training in Kannapolis. Sondra Merrill, HPT owner and fitness instructor, and Faustina Jeyaraj, NRI graduate research assistant came together to share important nutrition and fitness information to help us all start 2024 with good health in mind.

Sondra demonstrated some fitness techniques that the audience tried. Faustina gave insight on nutrition tips to keep you at your healthiest.

You can read the fitness and nutrition tips by clicking the button to the left.

Nutrition by Design: Exploring 3D Printing in Cognitive Development
UNC Nutrition Research Institute | Kannapolis, NC | Carol L. Cheatham, PhD
December 5, 6 PM

On December 5 we explored the exciting convergence of 3D printing technology and nutrition research. Carol L. Cheatham, Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute, delved into the innovative use of 3D printing to study the cognition and memory of infants and toddlers through imitation tasks. This event provided an opportunity to learn more about the evolving landscape of nutrition research and how it may impact early brain development.

Nutrition and Cancer with Stephen Hursting, PhD
Zoom | UNC Nutrition Research Institute
October 25, 12 PM

A healthy lifestyle can help you feel great and maintain body weight, but it can also decrease your cancer risk. Stephen Hursting, PhD, MPH, NRI director and international leader in the area of nutrition, obesity, metabolism, and cancer, explains the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and its impact on your risk for developing cancer.

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, Hursting will present his research on the aggressive nature of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the potential targets for future chemotherapeutic development. Other researchers at the NRI have contributed research that could facilitate the development of treatment options with fewer side effects than the current aggressive treatment plans for TNBC.

Cooking Demo + Nutrition Talk: Fitting the Fall Season into Your Rainbow Diet
Johnson and Wales University | Charlotte, NC
September 27, 6 PM

On September 27 we took our Appetite for Life series on the road to Johnson and Wales University for a cooking demo + nutrition talk. Chef Daina Soto-Sellers, a JWU professor, is a science-driven chef with more than 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. Soto-Sellers prepared a fall inspired menu featuring a roasted butternut squash salad roll with maple orange dipping sauce, an entrée of creamy white stone ground grits with roasted vegetables and mushroom jus and an apple upside down cake for dessert.

Chef Soto-Sellers was joined by NRI’s Cinya Brand, MPH, CHES. Brand provided the nutritional benefits of each dish showing participants that healthy is also delicious. 

The Science of Beer
Old Armor Brewing Company | Kannapolis, NC
August 31 at 6 PM

Located in the heart of downtown Kannapolis, Old Armor is a one-of-a-kind brewery that features carefully crafted and locally brewed beers. We learned about the brewing process from Old Armor’s expert brewer, Stefan Perrin, co-founder and owner. From malting to fermentation, each flavor is hand-picked to include familiar tastes, new creations, and seasonal favorites.

The Nutrition Research Institute’s Sandra Mooney, PhD, shared a presentation on the science and health values of fermentation, nutritional facts about beer, as well as an introduction to precision nutrition research at the NRI. 

Sandra Mooney, PhD is an associate professor of Nutrition at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute. Her research program investigates the effects of environment and genes on brain development, with a focus on prenatal alcohol exposure. Mooney’s work has contributed to understanding that alcohol alters cell proliferation, migration, and death; all of which are critical for brain development.

Stefan Perrine, US ARMY veteran, graduated from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business Masters of Business in 2017 then attended California Polytechnic State University where he received his Brewing Certificate and trained at Innovation Brew Works in Pomona, CA. He and business partner Kyle Lingafelt started Old Armor Beer Co. in Kannapolis, NC, in order to give back to local veterans and first responders. Perrine is currently the co-owner and director of Brewing Operations for both Old Armor Beer Co. and Tipsy Hare Ciderworks, also in Kannapolis.

Epidemiology: the story of disease.
Julie Hasken, PhD, MPH
May 17, 2023

Every good story includes the “5 Ws”: Who, What, Where, When, and Why. In studying how disease begins and remains in a population, we’re writing the story of that disease, and we use the same technique. Julie Hasken, PhD, that highlighted various approaches to understanding the “5 Ws” of a given disease and how understanding them can lead to tailored intervention and prevention. This presentation is particularly timely today since there are several spreadable (communicable) diseases and lifestyle-linked (noncommunicable) diseases that scientists are working to discover the “5 Ws” of in order to improve health and wellbeing.

Dr. Hasken joined the NRI in 2012 as a Project Manager for Dr. Philip May focusing on the prevalence, child characteristics, and maternal risk factors of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) in the United States and South Africa. She earned her doctorate from the UNC-CH Department of Nutrition in 2021 and is now a postdoctoral research associate with Dr. May. Dr. Hasken earned her BS in Health Science from Truman State University and a Masters in Public Health, with a concentration in Health Education and Health Behavior, from UNC-CH. Dr. Hasken is also a Certified Health Education Specialist.

Appetite for Life: Better Health Outcomes Now and for the Future
March 2023

What if we can have better health outcomes, at a lower cost, now and for the future? Seriously.

Health is driven by four factors: clinical (10%), social (20%), genetics (30%), and behavior (40%). And yet, over 80% of our current health spending is on clinical services. The result? A declining life span and the highest cost per capita in the world. None of us should be satisfied with that result.

This event brought Katie Kaney, DrPH, FACHE, author of Both/And: Medicine & Public Health Together, and NRI’s Martin Kohlmeier, MD, PhD, professor of Nutrition, together to discuss this topic and more.

Katie Kaney is a C-suite healthcare thought leader with over 25 years of experience developing and implementing innovative programs to enhance care, promote health and expand business models for success. A bestselling author, Both/ And: Medicine and Public Health Together charts a practical path toward better health outcomes at a lower cost, for all. She is the founder of the Whole Person Index, an advisor for companies including PeraHealth / Rothman Index, Guideway Care and UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, among others.

Martin Kohlmeier focuses on laboratory diagnostics and nutritional genetics. With more than thirty years of experience in nutrition research, he has developed novel biochemical methods for the assessment of dietary intake and nutrient adequacy. Dedicated to helping the public benefit from recent advancements in genetics and nutrition, Kohlmeier uses this new technology to read the body’s DNA blueprint down to very fine details. His goal is to translate this data into practical directions for people’s health.

Speed Dating with the NRI: 3-Minute Nutrition Theories
February 2023

In February, we heard from eight of the Nutrition Research Institute’s scientists. They explained what it is they’re investigating and why it’s so important—in just 3 minutes each! Principal investigators, postdocs, doctoral students, and research specialists will take the mic to reveal the theories, concepts and ideas that underlie their exacting work in the laboratory and clinic. These 3-minute theory presentations are designed to effectively explain complex scientific research in down-to-earth language for a non-scientific audience. 

You can read the scripts of these talks by clicking the button to the left.

Nutrition Trivia
January 2023

What’s the difference between a vitamin and a mineral?  The UNC Nutrition Research Institute gathered at Gaelic Alley Irish Pub in downtown Kannapolis for Nutrition Trivia Night. The evening was full of food, drinks, trivia, and prizes at Gaelic Alley, Kannapolis’ brand-new pub featuring traditional Irish flavors. In addition, TasteBudz Gourmet Burgers food truck was on-site with a delicious menu of burgers, sandwiches, and cheesesteaks available for purchase.

Missed the fun night? You can still try your hand at nutrition trivia by clicking the button to the left

Nutrition and Other Factors to Combat Cancer
October 2022

Living a healthy lifestyle is a great way to decrease your cancer risk, but what does it mean to have a healthy lifestyle? On October 27, three scientists from the NRI talked about different approaches you can take to decrease cancer risk, including eating nutritious foods, maintaining a healthy body weight, and being physically active. They discussed evidence-based strategies for cancer prevention as well as dietary changes you can make if you are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer prevention and survival is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Speakers included: Alyssa Ho, research technician; Violet Kiesel, postdoctoral research associate; Hannah Malian, graduate research assistant.

Precision Nutrition + Plant-based Eating
Sepetember 2022

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute hosted a special Appetite for Life featuring Monique May, MD, the Physician in the Kitchen^™, with an introduction on precision nutrition by Kendra Nelson, MPH, registered dietitian, and member of the NRI’s Voruganti Lab.

AFL Program Summaries