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.
Read the Latest News
Understand Your Gut Microbiome and How to Keep It Healthy
This article originally appeared on UNC HEALTH TALK It’s been a long day on the go, and so you grab a burger and fries from the drive-thru. Within hours, your stomach hurts and you feel bad overall. That’s because fatty and highly processed foods are damaging to your...
Bridging Science and Community: A Letter and Video from Julian Robles
Understanding and Managing Stress Eating
by Irene Wang Originally published by the Living F.R.E.E. Lab During stressful times, many people reach for something crunchy, salty, or sweet - food that’s easily accessible and full of flavor, even when hunger isn’t the reason. While this is a common response, it’s...
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
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
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.
Fuel the Future of Nutrition Research
Every study launched, every student mentored, and every discovery shared begins with people who believe in the power of research to change lives. When you make your gift to the NRI, you help fuel the discoveries that improve lives here in North Carolina and around the world. Your support of any amount ensures that what we learn in the lab reaches the people who need it most.
Community
Get involved with the UNC Nutrition Research Institute and help us become a global leader in scientific discovery.
NRI Exclusive Updates

