From Cotton to Chromosomes
From the textile mills that shaped Kannapolis to the cutting-edge science transforming human health, the UNC Nutrition Research Institute represents the city's next chapter of innovation. As part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the NRI is a global leader in precision nutrition, studying how genes, nutrition, lifestyle, and the environment work together to influence health.
Our researchers are advancing discoveries that help prevent disease, improve healthy aging, and shape a future where nutrition is tailored to the unique needs of every individual.
Pioneering Precision Nutrition
At the UNC Nutrition Research Institute, we are dedicated to unraveling the complexities of nutrition to enhance health and well-being.
Every Discovery Begins with You
Whether you're healthy or managing a medical condition, you may be exactly who a research study needs. By participating, you can help researchers answer important questions that improve health for future generations.
FUND
DISCOVERY
Together, we are shaping the future of precision nutrition and creating healthier lives for generations to come. Your support of any amount ensures that what we learn in the lab reaches the people who need it most.
See Why Your Support Matters
Advancing Nutrition Science for a Healthier Tomorrow
Pioneering
Personalized
Nutrition
At the UNC Nutrition Research Institute,
we are dedicated to unraveling the complexities of
nutrition to enhance health and well-being.
Join us on our journey to discover how
personalized nutrition can transform lives.
AGILE Study
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
All Of Us (AoU)
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 areasChapel Hill, NC & surrounding areas
AoU: Nutrition for Precision Health Study
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
AYA WELL Cancer Survivor Study
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
BRAINS Avocado Study
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
EAT MOVE THINK Study
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
Flavonoids Foods on Carbonyl Stress
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
Type 2 Diabetes Management and Eating Behavior
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
Infant Nutrition and Cognition Study
A 3-month diet intervention 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
Nutritional Impact on Gut Microbiota and Human Health
Studying how gut bacteria break down food and how nutrition supports overall health.
• Age between 18 and 65 years
• BMI between 18–25 or 30–40
• Not currently breastfeeding
• Not taking medications or antibiotics
Kanapolis, NC
SPM Active® Supplementation
Studying how an omega-3 dietary supplement may affect adults with obesity.
• Ages 25-65 years of age
• BMI 30-40
If you smoke, are allergic to fish, or take medication for diabetes, asthma, or any autoimmune disease, you do not qualify.
Kannapolis, NC
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
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.