2024 News Feed

bowl of soy beans

Pennington Biomedical Study to Explore Effects of Soy on Blood Sugar Levels

Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Dr. Candida Rebello wants to know more about the intersection of blood sugar levels and a diet rich in soy. This intersection is the primary focus of her new study, “Lifestyle Intervention for Improving Metabolic and Motivational Outcomes,” or MOTIVATE, which explores how specific diets can impact blood sugar, and potentially improve mood and energy levels.

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Image of hypoxic tent that will be placed over participants' beds as part of study

Low Oxygen and Weight Status Trial Seeking Participants

Can reduced oxygen in the air lead to weight loss? That is what Pennington Biomedical researcher Dr. Claire Berryman is exploring in the “Low Oxygen and Weight Status,” or LOWS, study, which is currently recruiting participants. The study is open to adults between the ages of 22 and 65, and it lasts up to four months.

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Louisiana Obesity Society

Second Annual Louisiana Obesity Society Conference Held in New Orleans

The Louisiana Obesity Society and the Louisiana Chapter of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery hosted the 2024 Louisiana Obesity Conference on Saturday, Aug. 10, in New Orleans at the Renaissance Arts Hotel. Keynote speakers for the event included a video message from Senator Bill Cassidy, MD; State Senator Royce Duplessis; Dr. Jamy Ard, President of The Obesity Society; and Dr. Ann Rogers, President-Elect of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

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Image of the RURAL study's Mobile Exam Unit

Rural Health and Lung Study Coming to Franklin Parish

The Risks Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal, or RURAL, Heart and Lung study will arrive in Louisiana’s Franklin Parish on Tuesday, Aug. 13. The study team, who were stationed in Assumption Parish starting in February 2024, are conducting a comprehensive longitudinal cohort study designed to help researchers better understand the underlying health risks faced by residents in rural areas.

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Image of clock on white background surrounded by foods including fish and vegetables

Scientists Reach Consensus for Fasting Terminology

Dr. Eric Ravussin of Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge was one of 38 scientists from five continents to present the first international consensus on fasting terminology and key definitions. Published in Cell Metabolism, the recent study reflects the increasing popularity of diets tied to fasting and a significant increase in scientific studies of fasting. While the application of fasting is rapidly growing, there was previously no globally established terminology.

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Image of Dr. Carrie Elks in front of purple background and words Dr. Carrie Elks $1.4 Million NIDDK Grant

Pennington Biomedical Researcher Dr. Carrie Elks Awarded $1.4 Million to Study Fat Cell Communication Cycle

The National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK, awarded Pennington Biomedical researcher Dr. Carrie Elks a grant of $1.4 million to explore insulin resistance and inflammation in fat cells. Dr. Elks will apply the grant toward her Matrix Biology Laboratory’s project “Adipocyte cytokine signaling as a coordinator of adipose tissue function.”

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Reis Alsberry

Reis Alsberry Joins Pennington Biomedical as Director of Intellectual Property and Commercialization

Reis Alsberry has joined the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, serving as the new Director of Intellectual Property and Commercialization. In this role, Reis will oversee the patentability, protection and market potential of inventions and discoveries emerging from Pennington Biomedical. He will also license new technologies to industry through active marketing, and he will help in the creation of startup companies by faculty and students.

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Campus Overview

Pennington Biomedical’s Olympic Debut

If you’ve been keeping up with the summer Olympics in Paris, odds are you’ve also seen a commercial for the Center running during NBC’s coverage. The Comms/Marketing team were able to secure a local commercial spot during this world-wide event in an effort to showcase our great work.

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Research article by Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Sujoy Ghosh and Dr. Claude Bouchard included in the International Journal of Obesity 

Pennington Biomedical Scientists Outline Key Challenges and Promising Avenues in Obesity Genetics

Research on the genetics of obesity dates to the early 1920s, with many of the initial findings indicating the complexity and multifaceted nature of obesity perfectly resonating with more modern discoveries. Researchers at Pennington Biomedical have collected nearly a century’s worth of considerations and advancements to frame their perspectives on modern research into the genetics of obesity.

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Meeting with Nutritionist

Studying Childhood Obesity: Your Family Could Help Researchers Move Science Forward

Pennington Biomedical Research Center is home to the top scientists in the world who are studying one of the most pressing health issues in our country – childhood obesity. Despite ongoing efforts, childhood obesity rates have continued to soar over the last 10 years, with about 1-in-5 children affected by obesity. To move the science forward, Pennington Biomedical invites parents to enroll their children in clinical research trials.

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