At the UNC Nutrition Research Institute, discovery does not happen in a single moment. Between the first research question and the final publication is the careful, often unseen work of planning, recruiting participants, gathering data, building teams, and refining ideas. This invisible middle is where science takes shape.
The UNC Nutrition Research Institute is proud to celebrate Natalia Krupenko, PhD, and Stephen Hursting, PhD, MPH, who have been named 2026 Excellence in Nutrition Fellows of the American Society for Nutrition.
The FASN designation recognizes distinguished members of ASN for their ongoing contributions to the field of nutrition and sustained engagement in the nutrition community. For Krupenko and Hursting, the honor reflects not only individual achievement, but also the long-term impact of research that is helping shape how scientists understand the relationship between nutrition, metabolism, chronic disease, and lifelong health.
Can your body predict how well you will lose weight—before you even start dieting? New research led by scientists at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) suggests that the answer may one day be yes. In a recent study published in PLOS ONE, researchers found that small molecules produced during metabolism—called metabolites—may help predict who will respond best to calorie-restricted diets. The idea that future weight-loss success could be anticipated in advance represents a major step toward more personalized, effective approaches to obesity and metabolic health.
The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) is proud to recognize an important milestone in the career of Blake Rushing, PhD, Assistant Professor of Nutrition. Rushing now leads his own research program, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his work at the NRI. His laboratory focuses on understanding how nutrient metabolism shapes cancer development and treatment response.