Newswise — Sanford Health and North Dakota State University today announced recipients of $250,000 in seed funding to conduct collaborative research on human nutrition, weight management and other dietary-related areas as part of an initiative developed between the two organizations. The research will address key objectives of the Profile by Sanford® program. Eighteen applications with total budgets of $1.4 million were received for $250,000 of available funding. Three NDSU projects selected for this round of funding include:
•Kyle Hackney, Ph.D., Human Nutrition and Exercise Science: “Protein and Muscular Health with Aging”Hackney’s research will explore how dietary protein and key amino acids are related to optimal muscular health with aging.
•Leah Irish, Ph.D., Psychology: “Temporal dynamics of sleep and energy consumption and expenditure”Irish’s research will examine how sleep, physical activity and diet interplay and explore the potential role of sleep in weight management.
•Katie Reindl, Ph.D., Biological Sciences: “Dietary flaxseed to prevent inflammation and oxidative stress in American Indian smokers”Reindl’s research will evaluate how the use of dietary flaxseed may be used as a chemopreventative strategy. The research will examine the effects of flaxseed on proinflammatory and anti-oxidant biomarkers. NDSU researchers will have opportunities to collaborate with investigators from Sanford Research. All research projects selected for funding must be completed by June 30, 2016. Findings relevant to Profile will be considered as the program evolves and expands. Profile is a weight-management program that uses customized meal plans, health coaches and real-time technology. It was developed by Sanford physicians and researchers.
Sanford is providing $250,000 annually for five years for the seed-grant program.
“This collaboration with Sanford Health carries opportunities for researchers and students to investigate questions important to human health and ultimately, work to contribute to solve health challenges for our citizens,” said NDSU President Dean L. Bresciani.
“The private sector collaboration with Sanford Health serves as an illustration of university partnerships that benefit the communities we serve,” said President Bresciani. “This collaborative partnership allows us the opportunity for continued meaningful research in the arena of human health and weight management,” said David Pearce, Ph.D., president of Sanford Research. “We look forward to working with NDSU researchers as we evaluate the research findings for potential use in the Profile by Sanford program as it continues to evolve and improve.” “The wide range of proposals received for funding illustrates the interdisciplinary nature of research related to human health,” said Kelly A. Rusch, NDSU vice president for Research and Creative Activity. “Research proposals were received from the areas of plant and animal sciences, nursing, pharmaceutical science, vet and microbial science, landscape architecture, engineering, psychology, human nutrition and exercise science and biological sciences,” said Rusch.
Profile launched in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, opening its first storefront in November 2012. Today, it has 25 locations in 10 states, including two in Fargo-Moorhead, with more planned openings by the end of 2015.
About NDSUNDSU, Fargo, North Dakota, is notably listed among the top 108 U.S. public and private universities in the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education’s category of “Research Universities/Very High Research Activity.” As a student-focused, land grant, research institution, NDSU is listed in the Top 100 research universities in the U.S. for R&D in agricultural sciences, chemistry, computer science, physical sciences, psychology, and social sciences, based on research expenditures reported to the National Science Foundation. www.ndsu.edu/research About Sanford HealthSanford Health is an integrated health system headquartered in the Dakotas. It is one of the largest health systems in the nation with 43 hospitals and nearly 250 clinics in nine states and three countries. Sanford Health’s 27,000 employees, including 1,400 physicians, make it the largest employer in the Dakotas. Nearly $1 billion in gifts from philanthropist Denny Sanford have allowed for several initiatives, including global children's clinics, genomic medicine and specialized centers researching cures for type 1 diabetes, breast cancer and other diseases. For more information, visit sanfordhealth.org.
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