The University of Idaho is establishing a biomedical research center focused on advancing research in women’s health and nutrition, and the National Institutes of Health is contributing more than $11 million to the effort.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded more than $11 million to the University of Idaho to establish a biomedical research center focused on advancing research in women’s health and nutrition.
Sherry McGuire, professor of nutrition and director of the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), recently received confirmation of her successful application for an NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant, and has been named project director and director of the Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS). He will serve as the principal researcher. . Ms. McGuire is a maternal-fetal nutritionist with expertise in breastfeeding and lactation and was recently elected to the National Academy of Medicine.
“It will strengthen our ability to conduct high-level federally funded research on topics that should be important to all of humanity,” McGuire said. “We want to impact the state, region and nation.”
American women face an increased risk of malnutrition, with 12% suffering from anemia and 60% being overweight. Malnutrition is a particularly serious problem in Idaho, where 12% of the general population is food insecure, compared to 10% nationally.
“The overall theme of women’s health and nutrition is important from childhood, through breastfeeding, during pregnancy, and even as women age, when they are at higher risk for poor health conditions such as osteoporosis and certain types of cancer.” said McGuire. .
The COBRE period is initially five years, retroactive to January 1, and U of I is eligible to apply for two additional five-year funding phases. In addition, U of I researchers are eligible to apply for up to $100,000 per year in funding for associated pilot projects, and McGuire has already received inquiries about this opportunity from faculty at four universities. I am.
This funding will cover two administrative staff positions and four new faculty positions. These include two FCS faculty members, a health psychologist from the Department of Psychological Communication Studies, and an expert in analyzing large datasets or data related to nutrition and women’s health within the Department of Mathematics. and statistical science.
Project leader
COBRE will appoint three leaders for the initial research project.
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Yimin Chen, an assistant professor at FCS who specializes in maternal nutrition and breast milk composition, will study the effects of postpartum vitamin D supplementation on maternal depression.
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Ginny Lane, an FCS assistant professor specializing in community and global nutrition, will study type 2 diabetes among Hispanic women living in Idaho.
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Ann Brown, associate professor of exercise physiology and associate dean of the Graduate School of Education, Health and Human Sciences, will study the health effects of carrying excess weight in women, including college athletes, who are of normal weight. is. Adipose tissue similar to that of obese people.
COBRE’s management team also includes Mark McGuire, the university’s distinguished professor, associate dean for research and director of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Site, and Janet Williams, senior research scientist in the College of Animal, Veterinary Medicine and Food Sciences. A nutritional analysis lab developed for this program.
COBRE research project leaders receive leadership training.
“My vision is for all of these people to eventually reach leadership roles and be voices for rigorous research and academic leadership that considers women’s health on a daily basis,” McGuire said. .
The COBRE program supports the establishment and development of innovative, cutting-edge biomedical and behavioral research centers at state institutions that have historically not been successful in securing NIH awards. Idaho ranks his 49th among states in receiving NIH funding.
McGuire’s COBRE is the fourth COBRE in U of I history. U of I has another active COBRE, the Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation, now in its ninth year and run by Holly Wichman, a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.
Source: University of Idaho
