2026 News Feed
Dr. Chris Morrison Awarded Up to $2 Million NIH Grant to Study How the Brain Detects Dietary Protein Restriction
Dr. Chris Morrison, John S. McIlhenny Endowed Professor in Nutritional Neuroscience and Associate Executive Director for Basic Science at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, was awarded a prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 research grant totaling up to $2 million to investigate the hormone FGF21 and the detection of dietary protein restriction.
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“Be the Reason Kids Greaux Healthy” Connects Experts to Advance Childhood Obesity Care
Nearly 200 healthcare professionals, researchers, educators and community leaders gathered Sept. 24 at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center for the 2026 Childhood Obesity Conference, “Be the Reason Kids Greaux Healthy.” Presented by Pennington Biomedical’s Greaux Healthy initiative, the conference brought together professionals from across Louisiana and beyond to explore evidence-based approaches to preventing and treating childhood obesity and improving health outcomes for children and families.
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What Science Says About Ultraprocessed Foods and the Aging Brain
The colorings, additives and preservatives added to food products, as well as food processing techniques, are a source of great concern in 2026 because they are ubiquitous worldwide, yet the effects of these items on metabolic health are not fully understood. In addition, researchers are increasingly investigating how these dietary items may also affect the brain as people age. Dr. Owen Carmichael of LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is helping advance that understanding through a new comprehensive look at the potential relationship between ultraprocessed foods – those featuring extensive processing and additives – and the aging brain.
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Researchers Identify Brain Circuit Linked to Food Cravings During Pregnancy
Why do food cravings become so strong during pregnancy? Researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in collaboration with colleagues, have identified a brain mechanism that may help explain how pregnancy changes the motivation to seek certain highly palatable foods. This collaborative study was led by Dr. Yanlin He of Pennington Biomedical Research Center, together with Dr. Pingwen Xu of the University of Illinois Chicago and Dr. Chunmei Wang of Baylor College of Medicine.
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‘Momnesia’ is Real – Scientists Find a Biological Explanation for Temporary Forgetfulness during Pregnancy
Many women usually say the same thing during pregnancy: they walk into a room and forget why, misplace their keys or struggle to follow a conversation. This phenomenon, often called ‘pregnancy brain’ or ‘momnesia,’ has long lacked a clear biological explanation.
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Pennington Biomedical Researchers Help Advance New Tool for Analyzing Continuous Glucose Monitoring Data
Continuous glucose monitors generate an extraordinary amount of information about how the body regulates glucose throughout the day. As CGM becomes an increasingly important data stream in metabolic research, scientists face a growing challenge: how to turn that immense volume of information into meaningful and comparable insights.
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Researchers Offer New Perspective on How Protein Restriction May Promote Healthy Aging and Longevity
A new perspective from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center proposes a new way of understanding how dietary protein restriction may promote healthy aging and extend lifespan: through a coordinated physiological response that connects cellular nutrient sensing with hormones, the brain and changes throughout the body.
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Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk Named an LSU Boyd Professor, One of the LSU System’s Highest Honors
The LSU Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on Sept. 4 to name Dr. Aaron Sheehan-Dean, Dr. James Garand, and Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk as Boyd Professors. The Boyd Professorship, established by the LSU Board of Supervisors in 1953, is the most distinguished and highest professorial rank awarded by LSU. The honor recognizes faculty members who bring honor and prestige to the university through national and as appropriate, international recognition for outstanding achievements.
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Dr. Emily Flanagan Awarded Up to $3.55 Million NIH Grant to Study Infant Energy Balance and Early-Life Growth
Dr. Emily Flanagan, Assistant Professor and Director of the Developmental Physiology Laboratory at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has been awarded a prestigious National Institutes of Health R01 grant totaling up to $3.55 million to investigate how energy intake and expenditure influence infant growth during the first year of life.
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Researchers Find Peroxisomes Help Protect Insulin and Maintain Beta Cell Health
Researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center have identified a previously underappreciated role for tiny structures inside cells called peroxisomes in protecting insulin and maintaining the health and maturity of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells.
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