A research study that tests a healthy eating and exercise program for 12 weeks.

• 18-39 years of age
• BMI between 25 and 45
See eligibility criteria

Kannapolis, NC

Researchers need health information from large numbers of people who have different backgrounds and come from different parts of the country.

• 18+ years of age
• Children can also participate at some locations

Kannapolis, NC & surrounding areas
Chapel Hill, NC & surrounding areas

NPH is a partner of the All of Us Research Program. NPH studies how individual people respond to different foods.

• 18+ years of age
• Speak English or Spanish
Must be enrolled in the All of Us Research Program.

Kannapolis, NC

Provides adolescent and young adult cancer survivors with tools and strategies to manage their weight and improve diet quality and physical fitness.

• 18-39 years of age

All measures can be completed virtually/remotely

The purpose of this study is to show how nutrition helps babies grow and learn.

• 18 to 35 year old women who are pregnant and plan to breastfeed
OR
• Currently breastfeeding babies younger than 3 months of age

Kannapolis, NC

Researching whether consuming blueberries and exercising can support brain health as we age.

Ages 65–85
• Experiencing memory issues
• Physically inactive (less than 150 min/week of moderate exercise in the last 4 weeks)

Kannapolis, NC

This study looks at how your body processes different amounts of flavonoids (nutrients found in certain foods) over time. 

Age between 40 and 70 years
• BMI between 18 and 30 kg/m²
• Not taking medications, supplements, or antibiotics
• No allergy to milk, soy milk, green tea, blueberries, apples, or pineapples
• Non-smoking

Kanapolis, NC

Do you feel out of control around food? Have you been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?

• 18+ years of age
• Have Type 2 Diabetes (A1c 7.5+)
• Have a working smartphone
• Feel out of control around food
See eligible criteria

Kannapolis, NC

Researching whether consuming blueberries and exercising can support brain health as we age.

Ages 65–85
• Experiencing memory issues
• Physically inactive (less than 150 min/week of moderate exercise in the last 4 weeks)

Kannapolis, NC

Provides adolescent and young adult cancer survivors with tools and strategies to manage their weight and improve diet quality and physical fitness.

• 18-39 years of age

All measures can be completed virtually/remotely

The purpose of this study is to show how nutrition helps babies grow and learn.

• 18 to 35 year old women who are pregnant and plan to breastfeed
OR
• Currently breastfeeding babies younger than 3 months of age

Kannapolis, NC

Researching whether consuming blueberries and exercising can support brain health as we age.

Ages 65–85
• Experiencing memory issues
• Physically inactive (less than 150 min/week of moderate exercise in the last 4 weeks)

Kannapolis, NC

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Obesity Linked with Higher Risk for COVID-19 Complications

Obesity Linked with Higher Risk for COVID-19 Complications

This article was published originally by UNC-Chapel Hill in Health and Medicine on Wednesday, August 26th, 2020. A review of COVID-19 studies reveals a troubling connection between two health crises: coronavirus and obesity. From COVID-19 risk to recovery, the odds...

Research Uncovered: Baba Mass

Research Uncovered: Baba Mass

This article was published originally by endeavors on August 19th, 2020. Baba Mass is a research technician in the Voruganti Lab within the UNC Nutrition Research Institute. He studies how genes and diet impact serum uric acid levels – a chemical created when the body...

Precision Nutrition—the Answer to “What to Eat to Stay Healthy”

Precision Nutrition—the Answer to “What to Eat to Stay Healthy”

This article was published originally online in the Journal of the American Medical Association on August 7, 2020. By Griffin P. Rodgers, MD and Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD The long-recognized centrality and importance of...

Matching Meals to Metabolism

Matching Meals to Metabolism

This article was originally published on knowablemagazine.org on July 28, 2020. By Jyoti Madhusoodanan Q&A with nutrition researcher Steven Zeisel Genes, microbes and other factors govern how each person’s body processes nutrients. Understanding the connections...

About the NRI

Deborah F. Tate, PhD
Interim Director
Professor of Nutrition 

As a trailblazer in precision nutrition research, the UNC Nutrition Research Institute investigates the intricate interplay between nutrients, lifestyle behaviors, environmental influences, genetic and other biological factors. We’re dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of nutritional diversity among individuals. By leveraging top-tier scientific minds and cutting-edge genetic, metabolic, and digital tools, we’re poised to revolutionize personalized nutrition recommendations and the behavioral support tools needed for realizing healthier futures.

Building upon our legacy as a leader in fundamental and translational science, we’re expanding our reach into human clinical and community trials. I am determined to further this expansion, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of cutting-edge research both in our laboratories and within our communities.

The NRI is forging a path towards a healthier tomorrow for generations to come. Through this website, we aim to keep you informed about our fantastic people, latest developments, participation opportunities, milestones, and community engagements.

Deborah F. Tate, PhD

Core Values

Our Core Values are the shared values to which we commit ourselves for how we conduct our work at the NRI and the way we approach our mission and vision.

Collaboration

We work together to achieve collective and individual goals because we believe that multiple perspectives promote better outcomes.

Innovation

We are innovative and compassionate in our approach to complex issues in precision nutrition.

Cultural Stewardship

We seek to respect the unique qualities of each individual and to foster an environment where open inquiry and expression by all members of this institute are embraced.

Dedication

We are determined to excel in every aspect of our research enterprise.

Integrity

We conduct ourselves with integrity in all our scientific, business and community endeavors.

 

Research Excellence

We are responsible for conducting publicly and privately funded innovative research with excellence.

We Develop Precision Nutrition

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute is an internationally recognized center that conducts innovative basic and translational science studying how individual differences in requirements and responses to diet affect our individual nutritional needs. We believe that our advances in nutrition science are leading to successes in preventing or mitigating the negative effects of chronic diseases and aging and in improving human development, even prior to conception.        → Learn more about Precision Nutrition

UNC-Chapel Hill

The Nutrition Research Institute is part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We’re proud of our Carolina heritage and to represent UNC on the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis.

NC Research Campus

Located in Kannapolis just north of Charlotte, the North Carolina Research Campus brings together eight university research centers along with industry, government, and nonprofit partners to advance human health through nutrition. Together, scientists study precision nutrition and work to develop safer, more nutritious crops and foods.

Kannapolis, NC

Kannapolis, North Carolina, just north of Charlotte, is a growing city with deep roots in textile history and a strong focus on the future. Home to the North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis brings together universities, innovators, and community partners in a walkable downtown setting with parks, local dining, and year-round events.

Where We Are

UNC Nutrition Research Institute

500 Laureate Way
Kannapolis, NC 28081
704-250-5000

UNC Nutrition Research Institute

Research Spotlight

Choline, GLP-1s, and the Future of Precision Nutrition
“GLP-1 medications don’t just change your appetite. They also change how your body absorbs and handles nutrients,” noted Evan Paules, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow. “As these medications become more widely used, we need to understand how they might shift nutrient needs, including choline, so we can keep people healthy while they are on them.”

Precision Nutrition Training and Mentoring

The NRI is a center for precision nutrition training through programs for graduate and medical students, post-doctoral trainees, faculty, practicing physicians and other medical providers, registered dietitians, and industry professionals.

Research Spotlight

Evaluating the Evolving Real-World Adverse Events of GLP-1RAs Using FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)
NRI Contributor: Stephen D. Hursting, PhD, MPH 

Obesity remains one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time, contributing to conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

GLP-1 receptor agonists have emerged as promising tools for obesity and weight management, offering new opportunities to improve cardiometabolic health. But as their use grows, so does the need to better understand their safety in real-world settings.

Research that transforms lives.
PUBLICATIONS FROM OUR RESEARCHERS

Nutri-epigenetics of Mitochondrial Function and Energy Homeostasis in Obesity

NRI Contributors: Saroja Voruganti, PhD and Lydia Goss, MS, RD

How nutrition-related epigenetic changes may disrupt mitochondrial function and energy homeostasis, helping drive obesity beyond the effects of genetics, diet, and physical activity alone.

Choline, Lipidomics, and MASLD: Insights From the CARDIA Study

NRI Contributors: Katie Meyer, ScD, MPH and Anju Lulla, PhD

Certain blood lipids and choline-related metabolites were linked to fatty liver disease, suggesting they may help explain risk and serve as possible biomarkers.

Holding the Line: Preventing Weight Gain in Emotional Eaters

NRI Contributors: Rachel Goode, PhD, MPH, LCSW, Deborah Tate, PhD, Ramine Alexander, PhD, MPH, Tyisha Harper, MBA, Julian Robles, Ana Paola Campos

Weight gain prevention is a critical component of comprehensive obesity care. Emotional eating may contribute to unwanted weight gain, increasing cardiometabolic risk factors among adults with obesity.