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Dr. Robert Newton Jr. to Study African American Fathers as Proponents of Children’s Health
Dr. Robert Newton Jr., Professor of Physical Activity & Ethnic Minority Health for Pennington Biomedical Research Center, was recently awarded a $214,000 grant to study the health of African American families, particularly exploring if fathers can serve as catalysts for their children’s health. The grant, which was awarded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities division of the National Institutes of Health, will be used for Dr. Newton’s proof of concept study Fathers and Children Exercising Together, or FACEiT.
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Scaling New Heights: Dr. Claire Berryman is Uncovering the Connections Between Altitude and Weight Loss
In the field of weight loss research, traditional approaches like diet and exercise have long taken center stage. But what if there were a hidden factor that could hold the key to unlocking the body’s calorie-burning potential? Meet Dr. Claire Berryman, Ph.D., RD, an enthusiastic dietitian and visionary researcher at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, who is on a quest to shed light on the intriguing connections between altitude and weight loss.
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More than 50 Employees Celebrated at Pennington Biomedical Service Award Luncheon
On Friday, Dec. 1, Pennington Biomedical recognized employees celebrating years of service milestones for their tenure at the center. A total of 53 employees were honored, including two recognized for 35 years of service – Ray Allen in Computing Services and Yvette Gray in Fiscal Operations.
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November 2023 Publications
The following are recent publications by the researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
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More than $13M Awarded to Study Childhood Obesity Interventions in Rural and Minority Communities in Louisiana and Tennessee
Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Vanderbilt University Medical Center have received $13.8 million for five years of research funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to study the ideal “dose” of behavioral interventions to treat childhood obesity in rural and minority communities across Louisiana and Tennessee.
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LA CaTS’ Community Research for Optimal Wellness Network to Host Free Open House at Pennington Biomedical Research Center
The Community Research for Optimal Wellness Network, or CROWN, is hosting a free open house to encourage members of the Baton Rouge community to discover more about the program and its services. The open house will include tours of the Pennington Biomedical facility, engaging activities, opportunities to meet esteemed scientists, and photos with Santa Claus.
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A Prophetic Vision
Every day, thousands of Baton Rouge motorists zip past the iconic Pennington Biomedical Research Center on bustling Perkins Road – the expansive campus stretching 222 acres between Quail Drive and Kenilworth Parkway. The average Capital City resident no doubt knows that important research is happening inside, but few appreciate the extent of its worldwide impact.
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Ways to Avoid Post-Thanksgiving Drowsiness with Dr. Jacob Mey
Thanksgiving is a holiday to celebrate with family, friends and food. But after consuming turkey, sides and desserts, we are often tired and ready for that holiday nap. Is tryptophan to blame? Are there other causes to the “food coma” many find ourselves in on Thanksgiving? Dr. Jacob Mey, assistant professor at Pennington Biomedical, answers those questions and provides tips for celebrating your Thanksgiving.
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LSU Science Café: Demystifying School Lunch
From mystery meat to the lunch lady, Pennington Biomedical Research Center registered dietitian Cathy Carmichael will offer insight into the challenges and joys of school lunch at the LSU Science Café, on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The event will take place from 5-7 p.m. at the Varsity Theatre, 3353 Highland Road in Baton Rouge.
Learn More$3.4 Million Investment in Baton Rouge Health District Gateway Enhancements
The U.S. Department of Commerce, via its Economic Development Administration (E.D.A.), announced a significant $4.4 million investment in Louisiana's infrastructure. This allocation is geared towards strengthening the areas recently affected by disasters. A significant portion will be directed to the Baton Rouge Health District, in collaboration with Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, for vital enhancements.
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The Obesity Society Past Presidents Comment on SELECT Study Results
New findings show that the medication known as Wegovy® (semaglutide) can reduce existing heart disease in patients with obesity by 20%, according to a study co-authored by past presidents of The Obesity Society (TOS) and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
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Semaglutide Delivers 20 Percent Reduction in Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Obesity but No History of Diabetes
Semaglutide, the antidiabetic medication that is also used to manage weight, has been shown to deliver a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events by up to 20 percent for those without diabetes. The drug was previously shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes, but recent data shows the cardiovascular benefits of the drug in those without diabetes. The Semaglutide Effects on Heart Disease and Stroke in Patients with Overweight or Obesity, or SELECT, study (NCT03574597) is one of the largest cardiovascular outcome studies in the field of obesity, with more than 17,000 participants enrolled. The study compares the effects on patients of semaglutide versus a placebo for major heart disease events and stroke.
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Pennington Biomedical to Conduct Glycemic Control Study for Patients Living with Diabetes
Pennington Biomedical researchers, led by Associate Executive Director of Population and Public Health Sciences, Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, with support from WeightWatchers, will launch a study to evaluate a behavioral weight management program with the use of a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.
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Elite Faculty Accomplishments Celebrated at LSU Presidential Laurel Event
In its second year, this event highlights the exceptional academic, creative, and research accomplishments of faculty from all eight LSU institutions over the last academic year. This award is very selective, with a goal of highlighting the exceptional stature of our collective faculty in their respective fields while celebrating success and encouraging aspiration among peers.
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The Institute for Value-Based Medicine Hosts Event to Address Food Insecurity, Obesity and Chronic Conditions in Louisiana
The American Journal of Managed Care, the leading multimedia peer-reviewed journal dedicated to issues in managed care, is proud to announce an exciting and insightful event, “Advancing Innovations in Wellness and Food Security to Address Obesity and Chronic Conditions in Louisiana.” The dinner conference will take place in partnership with Ochsner Health and Healthy State on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the Westin New Orleans.
Learn MoreOctober 2023 Publications
The following are recent publications by the researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
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Cultivating Cures
‘Pretty’ probably isn’t the first word most of us think to use to describe samples of brain and spinal tissue. But it is Jaclyn Williams’ job to look at the multi-colored 3D images of tissue from new angles. And as Research Associate 2 in Dr. Heike Muenzberg-Gruening’s Central Leptin Signaling Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Williams indeed finds them ‘pretty.’
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A Lifetime in Research
Dr. Catherine Champagne still vividly remembers passing the Perkins Road construction site where Pennington Biomedical Research Center was taking shape in the late 1980s. She was on her way to drop off her two young sons at school and had heard plans for a facility with a mission to improve human health throughout the lifespan, including a center for the study of nutrition. For Champagne, the thought stirred a longing to return to a field that she loved but hadn’t pursued in years.
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Dr. Leanne Redman Selected for Top Honor by The Obesity Society
The Obesity Society – the leading professional society focused on obesity science, treatment and prevention – has named Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Leanne Redman as the recipient of the 2023 TOPS Research Achievement Award. The award, which is funded by the Take Off Pounds Sensibly, or TOPS, Foundation, was presented to Dr. Redman on Monday, Oct. 16, in recognition of her contributions to research in the field of obesity.
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Dr. Robert Kesterson Works to Overcome Major Hurdles in Cancer Research and Rare Diseases
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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