Director's Newsletter November 2011 - Human Nutrition Research ...
Director's Newsletter November 2011 - Human Nutrition Research ...
Director's Newsletter November 2011 - Human Nutrition Research ...
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HNRCA Director’s <strong>Newsletter</strong><strong>November</strong>, <strong>2011</strong><strong>November</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>Dear Colleagues,It is with greatexcitement that Iannounce plans tofund four new<strong>Research</strong> Clusters atthe HNRCA in 2012.Significant proposals from newcollaborative scientific <strong>Research</strong> Clusters inCancer, Cardiovascular Disease,Inflammation, immunity and infectiousdisease, and Obesity were submitted thissummer. We assembled an esteemedgroup of reviewers consisting of TuftsUniversity leadership, and faculty, USDA /ARS leaders, NIH and experts in the field ofnutrition research to evaluate theproposals. In each case, reviewers wereenthusiastic about the science beingproposed, and the new structures andcollaborative teams that had evolved.I am pleased to report that the scope andrequests made from each proposalallowed for this unprecedented funding foreach cluster, while keeping our financialmodels for doing so intact.Each new cluster will receive support onmany levels, and specific to the requestsand needs of the individual cluster. Supportwill be based on the establishment ofmetrics and milestones in each cluster, andfuture support will be contingent onmeeting these milestones.Each cluster will receive administrativesupport, as well as leadership training,priority in pilot study funding andequipment requests, and team buildingguidance. Additional support from thecore units for approved pilot studies, andassistance in preparing and writing grantswill also be offered.We anticipate releasing initial funding for<strong>Research</strong> Clusters in January 2012, pendingapproval of year one milestones.Subsequently, progress will be reviewedevery four months, with expectations andfuture funding based on scientific progress,work plans, team collaboration, andleadership effectiveness.Congratulations to the many scientists whoare now collaborating in new and excitingways thanks to the new paradigm of the<strong>Research</strong> Clusters. I would like to expressmy gratitude to everyone at the Center forthe enthusiasm and patience with whichthese significant changes has beenapproached.All the best,Simin Nikbin Meydani, D.V.M., Ph.D.1
<strong>November</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>New Pilot Studies AwardedThe HNRCA Pilot Study review committeehas completed its review for the last roundof 2010-<strong>2011</strong> Pilot Study proposals. Thankyou to the investigators who submittedprojects for this round and congratulationsto the following investigators, whoseproposals have been approved forfunding:· Bess Dawson-Hughes, MD: Effect ofDietary Fat Type and Amount onVitamin D3 Absorption· Andrew Greenberg, MD: NovelStudies of Perilipin Function inAdipocyte Metabolism· Susan Roberts, PhD: Intervention toPrevent Excess Weight Gain DuringPregnancy in Obese WomenThanks to the reviewers for offering theirtime and expertise. This year’s submissionswere reviewed by three different panelsthat included Paul Jacques, AliceLichtenstein, Joel Mason, Mohsen Meydani,Martin Obin, Allen Taylor and RobertBlanton of Tufts Medical Center. Inaddition, special thanks to Roger Fielding,PhD for chairing the Pilot Study reviewpanel for two rounds this year, and toMarybeth Keith for administrative support.The submission date for the first round ofPilot Studies for the <strong>2011</strong>-2012 fiscal year isFriday, January 13, 2012. Instructions canbe found on the HNRCA Staff Intranet.New Adjunct and PermanentAppointments at the HNRCAWe are pleased to announce the additionof Dr. Robin Kanarak and Dr. Enku KebedeFrancis as Adjunct Scientists at the HNRCA,and Dr. Tammy Scott as Scientist II in thenew Neuroscience and Aging laboratory,with primary appointment now here at theHNRCA.Dr. Kanarek is interim dean of the Gerald J.and Dorothy R. Friedman School of <strong>Nutrition</strong>Science and Policy, and a member of theTufts faculty for 34 years. In 2000, theundergraduate student senate named herProfessor of the Year, and she was honoredby the Graduate School of Arts andSciences in 2009 for outstandingcontributions to graduate education.Kanarek chaired the Department ofPsychology from 1996 to 2002, when shewas appointed dean of the GraduateSchool of Arts and Sciences, a position sheheld until 2006. Dr. Kenarak’s appointmentis at the Neuroscience and AgingLaboratory.Dr. Francis is currently Assistant Professor atTufts University School of Medicine /Department of Public Health andCommunity Medicine. She teaches aseminar in Global Health and Developmentand is in charge of the internationalApplied Learning Experiences program.She holds a PhD in BiotechnologicalSciences in Agronomy with emphasis onpreventive health, agriculture andeconomics. She also holds a Master ofScience degree in Environment andDevelopment and a Master of Art degreein Education. Prior to joining Tufts, sheworked for the United Nations. As2
<strong>November</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>UNESCO’s Goodwill Representative inCroatia, she initiated and worked on atobacco cessations program andmanaged a national program to promotewomen’s health. Recently, she servedPresident Obama’s campaign on a teamof healthcare policy advisors. Dr. Francis’appointment, along with the position of Dr.Angelo Azzi, aligns with the Center’sstrategic goal of increasing engagement inglobal health policy dialogue.Dr. Scott holds a Ph.D. in Clinical/BiologicalPsychology from Yale University and hascompleted a residency inNeuropsychology at Rush-Presbyterian-St.Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago. Sincecompleting her residency, Dr. Scott hasheld an academic appointment in theDepartment of Psychiatry of Tufts UniversitySchool of Medicine and worked as aresearch and clinical neuropsychologist atTufts Medical Center. She has a jointappointment as an assistant professor in theFriedman School of <strong>Nutrition</strong> Science andPolicy. Dr. Scott’s primary interests are inaging, cognitive function, andneuroimaging, but her expertise extends toissues regarding mood and quality of life.She has been an adjunct scientist at theHNRCA since 2009.Welcome New HiresWe are pleased to welcome several new hiresin the last two months:Julie Krol, Sr <strong>Research</strong> Tech – ExercisePhysiology LabSofia Ford, <strong>Research</strong> Coordinator – BoneMetabolism LabJennie Galpern, <strong>Research</strong> Dietitian –Metabolic <strong>Research</strong> UnitJoann Thelusma, Budget andAdministrative Assistant – CentralAdministrationEleni Tsiroyannis, <strong>Research</strong> Tech - ExercisePhysiology LabMolly Schleicher, Staff Assistant – EnergyMetabolism LabJonathan Lauseesn, Sr <strong>Research</strong> Tech –Exercise Physiology LabMin-Lee Chang, Sr <strong>Research</strong> Tech –<strong>Nutrition</strong> and Vision LabJessica Davis, Staff Assistant to theAdministrative DirectorHNRCA to Host Luncheon andTour for GSA Attendees<strong>November</strong> 21On Monday, <strong>November</strong> 21from 12-1:30pm,the HNRCA will host an informationalluncheon and tour for attendees of theAnnual Meeting and Convention of theGerontological Society of America (GSA).GSA members are meeting in Boston<strong>November</strong> 18-22.The outreach event aligns with our strategicgoal of increasing outreach to the agingand gerontology community and westrongly encourage all scientists to invitecolleagues in town for the GSA meeting tojoin us on the 21 st . For more informationplease contact Tinabeth Burton,Tinabeth.burton@tufts.edu.3
<strong>November</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>Awards, Presentations andAppointmentsDiane McKay was awarded the <strong>2011</strong>Gottingen Innovation Prize for PracticalHypertension <strong>Research</strong> by theBlutdruckInstitut Gottingen, located inGottingen, Germany. The award was for"outstanding work in the field ofhypertension research with practicalrelevance." Her lecture given at theaward ceremony was titled, "Hibiscus Tea:From Harvest to Hypertension."Jeffrey Blumberg participated in the IOMFood Forum, “Informing Health & FoodPolicy through Systematic, Evidence-BasedReviews,” at the National Academies inWashington, DC. He also delivered alecture at the “Scientific Forum onAchieving Micronutrient Adequacy andMinimizing Risk of Overconsumption: TheRole of Food Supplements,” organized bythe International Alliance of Dietary/FoodSupplement Associations, in Buenos Aires,Argentina. He also presented research fromthe Antioxidants <strong>Research</strong> Laboratory atthe International Conference onPolyphenols and Health in Barcelona andthe Federation of European <strong>Nutrition</strong>Societies’ European <strong>Nutrition</strong> Conference inMadrid.achievement in the areas of family andconsumer sciences. Upon receiving theaward she delivered a presentation,“<strong>Nutrition</strong>, immunity, inflammation, andinfectious diseases: a translationalapproach.” In addition, she received theFood Science and <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Nutrition</strong> AlumniImpact Award, <strong>2011</strong>, from Iowa StateUniversity.Simin Meydani was invited to give the<strong>Nutrition</strong>al Sciences Seminar at theAssociation of <strong>Nutrition</strong> Departments andPrograms (ANDP) and the Council of FoodScience Administrators (CFSA) conference,held <strong>November</strong> 8-10, at Pennsylvania StateUniversity. Her presentation was entitled“<strong>Nutrition</strong> and Immunity.”Doctoral student Lara Park was among thefinalists in the “Dance your PhD thesis,” aninternational competition. Many HNRCAstudents and faculty, including her thesisadvisor Sang Woon Choi, as well as LizJohnson, Keith Leung, Zhenhua Liu, JoelMason, Larry Parnell, Nicole Spartano,Stephanie Tammen, and Jennifer Truongparticipated in the filming. View thecomplete video here.Roger Fielding has joined the editorialboard of the Journal of GerontologyMedical Sciences.Simin Meydani received the Helen LeBaronHilton Alumni Award from Iowa StateUniversity, which recognizes graduates whoare nationally and internationallyrecognized for their community leadership,meritorious service or distinguishedDance your PhD Thesis competition4
<strong>November</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>Sarah Booth participated in the ILSI-EuropeWorkshop "Is there a need for SpecificDietary Reference Values for Vitamin K2?"in Brussels.Allen Taylor presented at a specialintensive program, May 15-20, <strong>2011</strong> inCoimbra, Portugal, entitled “Molecularbiology of aging and neurodegenerativediseases,” including the lectures: “Oxidativestress, age-related eye diseases, andprotein kinetics in the eye”; “Glycemicindex, protein kinetics and aging”; and“Live Longer Healthier by Avoiding ProteinAggregation and Eating Right.” He alsopresented “Proteopoise and the Eye,” atMIT, July 201; and “Don’t Eat That CandyBar: the nexus of environment, proteolysisand eye disease,” Tufts University,Biochemistry Department, Sept <strong>2011</strong>.Paul Jacques was elected by the Grains forHealth Foundation Board of Directors toserve on their Scientific AdvisoryCommittee, January 1, 2012-December 31,2014.Four HNRCA scientists participated at therecent Cell Signaling Networks (CSN)Conference <strong>2011</strong> (Oct 22-27) in Mérida,Yucatan, Mexico. Dr. Angelo Azziorganized a conference symposiumentitled <strong>Nutrition</strong> and Signaling. Dr. Azzichaired the session and gave the first talkentitled “Vitamin E is activated totocopheryl phosphate.” Following his talk,Simin Meydani spoke about "<strong>Nutrition</strong>,aging, and immune response,” MohsenMeydani then presented a talk on"Polyphenols modulation of angiogenesisand obesity," and Sang-Woon Choi closedthe session with his lecture on “Epigeneticsand nutrition.” The Cell Signaling NetworksConference is a distinguished internationalcongress held yearly in different locationsaround the world.HNRCA Participates in Clinical<strong>Research</strong> Education Day atMassachusetts State HouseCollaborating with diverse groups like theAlzheimers’ Association, Tufts CTSI, andHarvard Catalyst, HNRCA staff membersexhibited at a Clinical <strong>Research</strong> EducationDay hosted by State Representative JeffreySanchez on October 21.The event, which took place at the StateHouse, was intended to educate membersof the community on the significance ofclinical research happening inMassachusetts. Volunteer recruitment staffmembers were on hand to discuss currentopen studies at the HNRCA, and CherylGilhooley of the Dietary Assessment unitwas on hand to answer nutrition questionsfrom community members.5
<strong>November</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>Facility UpdatesSeveral updates to facilities and lablocations have happened in recentmonths. The ARS Neuroscience laboratoryand the Tufts Neurocognition laboratoryhave merged, and the new lab is nowhoused on the 8 th floor under the newname, the Neuroscience and AgingLaboratory. The Neuroscience and Aginglab is currently led by the interim LaboratoryDirector, Dr. Irwin Rosenberg, with thesearch for a permanent Director wellunderway.Offices occupied by the VitaminMetabolism laboratory personnel have alsobeen updated. The <strong>Nutrition</strong> EvaluationLaboratory will have its offices updated aspart of this construction as well. TheVitamins and Carcinogenesis laboratory willbe moving from the southwest corner ofthe 7 th floor to the northeast offices andlaboratory spaces formerly occupied bythe ARS Neuroscience Laboratory.Scientist SpotlightAllen Taylor, Ph.D., Director, Labfor <strong>Nutrition</strong> and Vision <strong>Research</strong>Q: What is new in the Lab for <strong>Nutrition</strong> andVision <strong>Research</strong>?A: It may be helpful to categorize theprojects we’re working on relative to thenew HNRCA <strong>Research</strong> “clusters”, andthereby thinking about how our work cancontribute to each. For example, in termsof cancer research, we have biochemicalinformation that demonstrates acompletely new and previouslyunappreciated means of controlling cellproliferation and cell motility. Both arefundamental processes involved in cancer.By revealing fundamental processes thatare essential to understanding cancerbiology, this information can be harnessedto develop new anticancer drugs. Inaddition, similar information will lead toimproved long term outcomes aftercataract surgery. Other projects in our labdeal with delaying chronic diseases such ascardiovascular disease, age-relatedmacular degeneration, type 2 diabetes aswell as the development of the lens andretina.Q: So is vision research reaching into eachof the Cluster areas?A: The answer is Yes. For example, anotherproject in our lab is looking at therelationship of the glycemic index andvisual function. The glycemic index hasmany implications for obesity and CVD,two more <strong>Research</strong> Cluster topics. AndInflammation is present in many diseases,including those affecting the retina, likeage-related macular degeneration. Thus,our findings will impact the inflammationcluster as well.To the extent to which our lab has humandata, laboratory animal data, and6
<strong>November</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>[Dr. Taylor spotlight continued]pathobiochemical data, we will be able tocontribute to each of the cluster areas.For example, we have been able to showin humans that eating a high glycemicindex diet makes one more prone to agerelatedmacular degeneration, andpossibly cataracts, and causesinflammatory stress. We have begun toreveal the patho biochemical mechanismsthat explain why consuming those dietscan make one more susceptible. I wouldguess that this may have an impact onother age-related diseases that are knownto be related to consuming diets withdifferent glycemic indices. In short, we arebeginning to unearth common modalitiesbehind these age related diseases.The Lab for <strong>Nutrition</strong> and Vision <strong>Research</strong>should also be seen as a resource. We canshare research samples and advancedbiochemical methodology. In the processof feeding animals high and low glycemicindex diets, we created tissues that arevaluable and applicable for manyresearch needs, they are housed here atthe HNRCA and we would be excited tomake them available for Cluster research.Q: You’ve got some interesting projectsoutside of the lab, too, correct?A: Yes. Science Training EncouragingPeace – Graduate Training Program (STEP-GTP) is a project that my wife and I arerunning and that I’ve been working on forsix years. The objective is to pair upPalestinian and Israeli scholars within likeareas of expertise and foster scientificcooperation and familiarization betweenpeoples who, under current circumstances,rarely meet each other. The program is7advanced in many ways, some unusual.This year, I was invited to direct an intensiveprogram on the neurobiology of aging atCoimbra University in Portugal. Theuniversity agreed to host a Palestinian andan Israeli fellow under the auspices of STEP-GTP. The pair, on their own initiative, beganan email correspondence. The Palestinianwas unable to get his visa from Portugal intime to attend the program in Coimbra.However, undeterred, the two STEP recruitskept up their email correspondence. TheIsraeli sent the Palestinian the coursematerials daily, and they began plans tomeet for potential work together. Severalweeks later, the Palestinian traveled to TelAviv University, and they began exploringideas for a joint research project.It is these types of collaborations and oneon-oneinteractions that can and do makea difference in the world, I believe.Recent Publications from HNRCAScientistsThe recent publications listed below reflectsubmissions to the Director’s office andpublished in <strong>2011</strong>. We will continue tocollect new publications from all labs andinclude them in future newsletters. Thankyou!Meng-Hua Tao, et al, (including HNRCA scientistJoel B. Mason). Promoter Methylation of E-Cadherin,p16, and RAR-ββ2 Genes in Breast Tumors andDietary Intake of Nutrients Important in One-CarbonMetabolism. <strong>Nutrition</strong> and Cancer,DOI:10.1080/01635581.<strong>2011</strong>.605982.Rosenberg IH. Sarcopenia: origins and clinicalrelevance. Clin Geriatr Med. <strong>2011</strong> Aug;27(3):337-9.
<strong>November</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>doi: 10.1016/j.cger.<strong>2011</strong>.03.003. Epub <strong>2011</strong> Jun 8.PubMed PMID: 21824550.Aldini G,et al (Including Yeum KJ). The carbonylscavenger carnosine ameliorates dyslipidaemia andrenal function in Zucker obese rats. J Cell Mol Med.<strong>2011</strong> Jun;15(6):1339-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01101.x. Epub 2010 Jun 1. PubMed PMID:20518851.Green AS, et al. (Including Tang G). Domestic catsconvert [(2)H(8) ]-β-carotene to [(2) H(4) ]-retinolfollowing a single oral dose. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr(Berl). <strong>2011</strong> Jul 29. doi: 10.1111/j.14390396.<strong>2011</strong>.01196.x. [Epub ahead of print] PubMedPMID: 21797934.Ronchi CF, et al. (Including Yeum KJ). Highfrequencyoscillatory ventilation attenuatesoxidative lung injury in a rabbit model of acute lunginjury. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). <strong>2011</strong> Sep 19. [Epubahead of print] PubMed PMID: 21930717.Fioretto JR, et al.(Including Yeum KJ). Effects ofInhaled Nitric Oxide on Oxidative Stress andHistopathological and Inflammatory Lung Injury in aSaline-Lavaged Rabbit Model of Acute Lung Injury.Respir Care. <strong>2011</strong> Jul 12. [Epub ahead of print]PubMed PMID: 21762562.Zhou H, et al (Including Johnson EJ and Shang F).Serum carotenoids and risk of age-related maculardegeneration in a chinese population sample.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. <strong>2011</strong> Jun 17;52(7):4338-44.Print <strong>2011</strong> Jun. PubMed PMID: 21508112.Barker FM et al. (Including HNRCA scientist ElizabethJohnson).<strong>Nutrition</strong>al manipulation of primate retinas,V: effects of lutein, zeaxanthin, and n-3 fatty acidson retinal sensitivity to blue-light-induced damage.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. <strong>2011</strong> Jun 6;52(7):3934-42.Print <strong>2011</strong> Jun. PubMed PMID: 21245404; PubMedCentral PMCID: PMC3175953Jun;22(6):929-36. doi: 10.1007/s10552-011-9759-y.Epub <strong>2011</strong> Mar 25.Murphy, G et.al (Including HNRCA Scientist, JacobSelhub) “Prospective study of serum cysteine levelsand oesophageal and gastric cancers in China.”Gut <strong>2011</strong> May;60(5):618-23. Epub <strong>2011</strong> Jan 17.Sempertegui, F et.al (Including HNRCA Scientists,Katherine L. Tucker, Sabrina E. Noel, Gerard E. Dallal,Jacob Selhub and Simin Meydani) Metabolicsyndrome in the elderly living in marginal peri-urbancommunities in Quito, Ecuador. Public Health Nutr.<strong>2011</strong> May;14(5):758-67. Epub 2010 Oct 19Chavez, P et.al (Including HNRCA Scientists,Pollyanna R. G. Chavez, Fuzhi Lian, Jayong Chung,Chun Liu, Sergio A.R. Paiva and Xiang-Dong Wang)Long-term ethanol consumption promotes hepatictumorigenesis but impairs normal hepatocyteproliferation in rats. J.Nutr. <strong>2011</strong> Jun;141(6): 1049-55.Epub <strong>2011</strong> Apr 13Liu, C et.al (Including HNRCA Scientists, Chun Liu,Xiang-Dong Wang, and Robert M. Russell)Chemopreventive effect of β-cryptoxanthin onsmoke-induced lung inflammation and neoplasia inferrets. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). <strong>2011</strong> Aug;4(8):1255-66. Epub <strong>2011</strong> Mar 18.Nascimento, A, et.al (Including HNRCA Scientist,Xiang-Dong Wang) Long-term high-fat diet-inducedobesity decreases the cardiac leptin receptorwithout apparent lipotoxicity. Life Sci. <strong>2011</strong> Jun 6;88(23-24): 1031-8. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.<strong>2011</strong>.03.015. Epub<strong>2011</strong> Mar 30.Shang F. and Taylor A., Ubiquitin-proteasomepathway and cellular responses to oxidative stress(<strong>2011</strong>) Free Rad. Biol. Med.Le Marchand, L et.al (Including HNRCA Scientist,Jacob Selhub) Association of plasma vitamin B6 withrisk of colorectal adenoma in a multiethnic case–control study. Cancer Causes Control. <strong>2011</strong>8