2026 News Feed
Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Candida Rebello Secures $3.7 Million NIH Grant to Study Muscle Retention in Older Adults
Pennington Biomedical Research Center scientist Dr. Candida Rebello recently secured a $3.7 million, five-year grant from NIH’s National Institute on Aging to explore lifestyle-focused care strategies to reduce excess body fat and declining muscle mass in older adults with obesity, also known as sarcopenic obesity. The grant will facilitate the planning and structure of the clinical trial laid out in her project “Lifestyle intervention to improve muscle function in older adults.”
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Pennington Biomedical’s Greaux Healthy Initiative Addresses Childhood Obesity as It Tours Houma-Thibodaux Region
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Greaux Healthy initiative is set to embark on a significant outreach tour throughout the Houma-Thibodaux region January 26-30. As childhood obesity rates in Louisiana rank among the highest in the nation, the Greaux Healthy initiative seeks to engage local education, healthcare, business, and government leaders in a collaborative effort to address this pressing health crisis.
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In U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Diets, DASH Diet Again Recognized as Best Heart-Healthy Diet
For the second year in a row, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH Diet, developed in part by scientists at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has been recognized as the best heart-healthy diet in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Diets rankings. Additionally, it again ranked as the second-best diet overall.
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Pennington Biomedical Researchers Explore Factors Behind Body’s Ability to Regulate Weight
Pennington Biomedical researchers recently investigated the systems of the body that regulate weight, exploring whether our bodies defend an established weight target or if our bodies operate within a broader range of tolerance before biological mechanisms are activated. The paper, titled “Body weight regulation models in humans: insights for testing their validity,” which was recently published in Nature Reviews Endocrinology, examined competing body weight regulation models and analyzed how energy intake and expenditure interact to maintain or disrupt weight stability.
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Elizabeth Stanley Named Associate Executive Director of Operations
Pennington Biomedical Research Center has announced the appointment of Dr. Elizabeth S. Stanley as Associate Executive Director of Operations, effective January 20, 2026. Stanley, who joined the Center in November as Senior Director for Operations and Finance, assumes the role following the transition of longtime operations leader Guy LaVergne, who is stepping down from his full-time position as Associate Executive Director after 27 years of service to the Center. LaVergne will continue supporting the Center in a part-time advisory and consulting capacity, working closely with Stanley and executive leadership to ensure continuity and strategic momentum during the transition.
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Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Gang Hu Appointed to NIH Reproductive, Perinatal and Pediatric Health Review Group
Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Gang Hu of the Center’s Chronic Disease Epidemiology Lab was recently appointed to serve as a member of the Integrated Review Group (IRG) for the NIH Reproductive, Perinatal and Pediatric Health (RPPH) Study Section. The IRG for the RPPH’s Previews applications submitted to the NIH, makes recommendations on the applications to the appropriate NIH National Advisory Council, and surveys the status of research in the field of population science and epidemiology.
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Dr. Jennifer Rood to Lead Pennington Biomedical Research Center as Interim Executive Director
Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Associate Executive Director for Cores and Resources, Dr. Jennifer Rood, has agreed to serve as Interim Senior Vice Chancellor and Executive Director while an international search for the Center’s next Executive Director is underway. Dr. Rood began her term as Interim Executive Director on Jan. 1, 2026, and is working closely with LSU leadership and Center representatives to identify a new full-time Executive Director.
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