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Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Robert Kesterson Working to Advance Knowledge of Neurofibromatosis Development and Treatment
Neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow along nerves, occurs in 1 in 3,000 to 4,000 people worldwide. Although the tumors are usually benign, they can cause blindness, deafness, disfigurement, bone abnormalities, learning disabilities, and disabling pain. Neurofibromatosis 1, more commonly called NF1, is also associated with an increased risk of other tumors including leukemia, glioblastoma, and breast cancer.
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Weight Loss Benefits of Semaglutide Last up to Four Years
Semaglutide, the much-acclaimed key ingredient in weight loss drugs Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus, has been shown to deliver benefits that last up to four years and, on average, result in a weight reduction of 10 percent compared to placebos. These extended benefits were observed in data generated through the SELECT study, led by Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s professor emeritus Dr. Donna Ryan.
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Pennington Biomedical Professor Emeritus Dr. George Bray Publishes 100-Year History of Obesity Research
Dr. George Bray has dedicated his professional life to researching obesity and metabolism, serving as the first executive director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center in 1989. Now as professor emeritus, his most recent publication explores the extensive history of obesity research over the past 100 years and prior.
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Changing the Culture: Eating for You, Not for Two
For many generations, society has embraced the idea that pregnant women are “eating for two.” That adage is frequently invoked as mothers-to-be are encouraged to abandon diets and overindulge in every food craving in the name of nutrition.
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Dr. Leanne Redman to Lead Pennington Biomedical’s Nutrition Obesity Research Center
Dr. Leanne Redman has been named as the new director of Pennington Biomedical’s Nutrition Obesity Research Center, or NORC. On May 1, Dr. Redman took over the role from Dr. Eric Ravussin, who held the director position for 19 years. NORC is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK, of the National Institutes of Health
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2024 Scientific Retreat Showcased Some of the Best of Pennington Biomedical
The annual Pennington Biomedical Scientific Retreat was held on May 1 in the C.B. Pennington Conference Center, and featured Blitz Presentations, Scientific Poster displays, guest speakers and much more. The Publication of the Year Award was also presented, filling the event with some of the very best research efforts by Pennington Biomedical researchers and scientists. LSU President Dr. William Tate attended the event and served as a guest speaker, sharing how Pennington Biomedical research is a vital node in the network of research across the LSU system.
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Bringing Scientists Back Home to Louisiana
Efforts to retain Louisiana’s best and brightest high school students in state often make the headlines. However, less attention is focused on how to keep those brilliant minds in the Bayou State after they complete undergraduate, master’s or Ph.D. programs. Over the past 35 years, Pennington Biomedical has attracted researchers from around the world to its Baton Rouge campus with the purpose of helping people live longer, healthier lives. These internationally renowned scientists collaborate with their colleagues in 240 academic institutions in 24 countries. Their work has generated close to 400,000 citations in scientific literature with five scientists ranking among the most cited researchers in the world
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During Mental Health Awareness Month, Practice Small Shifts for Mental Health and Resilience
May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month, and during the month, Pennington Biomedical’s Small Shifts campaign is focuses on mental health and resilience.
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April 2024 Publications
The following are recent publications by the researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
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Pennington Biomedical Researcher Dr. Jennifer Caldwell Awarded Pilot Funding from Forge AHEAD Research Center
Dr. Caldwell, who is an assistant professor at Pennington Biomedical, was selected for her upcoming project “Linking GAINS: Linking Genetics and Improving Nutrition in Scotlandville.” The support from Forge AHEAD is a testament to the center’s dedication to funding projects that can meaningfully contribute to fostering community-focused health initiatives and combating health disparities.
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Pennington Biomedical and the U.S. Military
Since 1988, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center has supported the U.S. Military and has become the No. 1 provider of nutrition science for the Department of Defense, or DOD. Over the years, that relationship has grown to include research focused on all aspects of readiness, performance and resilience. Over the past 35 years, Pennington Biomedical has attracted researchers from around the world to its Baton Rouge campus with the purpose of helping people live longer, healthier lives. These internationally renowned scientists collaborate with their colleagues in 240 academic institutions in 24 countries. Their work has generated close to 400,000 citations in scientific literature with five scientists ranking among the most cited researchers in the world
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Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Steven Heymsfield and Colleague Publish Guidance on Energy and Macronutrients Across the Life Span
In the long history of recommendations for nutritional intake, current research is trending toward the concept of “food as medicine” – a philosophy in which food and nutrition are positioned within interventions to support health and wellness. In the paper – “Guidance on Energy and Macronutrients Across the Lifespan” – by Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Dr. Steven Heymsfield, he shares the latest clarity and recommendations in the rich and storied history of energy and macronutrient intake.
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Ways to Work Out in the Workplace
Chances are you’ve heard it before: To stay in shape, you need to eat less and move more. Eating less may be difficult. But, moving more may seem nearly impossible given the demands of family, school and work—not to mention the commute among all three. Over the past 35 years, Pennington Biomedical has attracted researchers from around the world to its Baton Rouge campus with the purpose of helping people live longer, healthier lives. These internationally renowned scientists collaborate with their colleagues in 240 academic institutions in 24 countries. Their work has generated close to 400,000 citations in scientific literature with five scientists ranking among the most cited researchers in the world
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March 2024 Publications
The following are recent publications by the researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
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More Than One Billion People Around the Globe are Facing Obesity
Obesity is now the most common form of malnutrition in most countries, with the rates rising in all categories of men, women, children and adolescents since 1990. Obesity rates in adult men have nearly tripled since 1990, with obesity rates in woman doubling in that time. The rates of obesity in children and adolescents quadrupled in that time frame, as well. As of 2022, nearly 880 million adults and nearly 160 million children were living with obesity.
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Comparative Study of Type 2 Diabetes Medications Shows Differences in Medication Acceptance, Quality-Of-Life, Insulin Secretion and Mortality
Diabetes affects more than 1 in 10 — or more than 38 million — Americans. People with diabetes who keep their blood sugar levels in the near-normal range generally have a much lower risk of developing diabetes complications such as heart, kidney, and eye diseases. The challenge is that most people with diabetes require more than one medication to control blood sugar levels over time.
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A Father's Legacy: Dr. Justin Brown's Cancer Research
What do you do when one of the world's deadliest diseases hits your home? You use it as fuel. Meet Dr. Justin Brown, Director of Pennington Biomedical's Cancer Metabolism Program, and hear the inspirational story behind his passion. Every 18 seconds someone is diagnosed with cancer in the United States and every 52 seconds someone succumbs to this devastating disease. Individuals living with cancer and those at risk for developing cancer deserve to know how purposeful changes to their lifestyle can alter their clinical course. Over the past 35 years, Pennington Biomedical has attracted researchers from around the world to its Baton Rouge campus with the purpose of helping people live longer, healthier lives. These internationally renowned scientists collaborate with their colleagues in 240 academic institutions in 24 countries. Their work has generated close to 400,000 citations in scientific literature with five scientists ranking among the most cited researchers in the world
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Health Across the Lifespan Begins with Small Shifts
At Pennington Biomedical, our passion is straightforward: prevent disease, treat disease, end disease. Through innovative research, and with the involvement of the Baton Rouge community, we are applying cutting edge technologies to improve human health. But in addressing nutrition, obesity and diabetes, many approaches do not employ state-of-the-art lab equipment. Addressing them requires small shifts.
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National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: A Father’s Legacy Leads to a Research Passion for Dr. Justin Brown
Growing up, Dr. Justin Brown thought his career path would bring him to be a union carpenter in New York City, but when he was 14 years old, his father passed away following a battle with colon cancer. From then on, Dr. Brown’s future career became instantly clear. “My mission is motivated by the need to prevent children from having to watch their parents melt away from cancer,” Dr. Brown said.
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Pennington Biomedical Research Center Named a Spoke in the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub
Shortly after being selected as a spoke in the ARPA-H Customer Experience Hub, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center has also been named a spoke in the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub.
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