PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER AND … · has the success of losing weight under his belt....

• The Pennington BiomedicalResearch Center (PBRC) isthe largest academically basednutrition research center inthe world.

• Every $1 in state funding toPBRC has attractedapproximately $4 in federaland/or private funding.

• PBRC counts on statefunding for only about 20-percent of its total budget.

• PBRC research and projectshave reached into 35 parishesin every region in the state.

• PBRC's new vision statementis to “become the leadingnutrition and preventivemedicine research center" inthe world.

• More than 8,000 citizenshave voluntarily participatedin ground-breaking clinicalresearch trials at PBRC,including some 1,200 in thelast year alone. An additional20,000 individuals havevolunteered and completedscreening for future researchstudies.

Pennington ExecutiveDirector ReceivesAwards

Dr. Claude Bouchard,Pennington BiomedicalResearch Center (PBRC)

uccess comes in all shapes andsizes, and no one understandsthat more than those who haveshipped out to PenningtonBiomedical Research Center(PBRC) and shaped up for theirown personal victories.

Scott Westbrook is a believer;especially in himself now that hehas the success of losing weightunder his belt. He’s happy andhe’s proud, but mostimportantly, Westbrook is thehealthiest he’s been in years.

As a former participant ofCALERIE, ComprehensiveAssessment of Long-TermEffects of Reducing Intake ofEnergy, Westbrook admits hehad a few second thoughts aboutthe study that would require hisparticipation for a total of two

years. Even though he knew hewanted to change his harmfuland rather cumbersome stress-induced eating habits,Westbrook didn’t fully know ifCALERIE and its strict dietaryand record-keeping regimenwas the right weight lossavenue for him. But realizinghe needed some immediatecourse of action, Westbrook,relying on support from familyand friends, decided toparticipate in the research. ForWestbrook, it paid off.CALERIE techniciansdetermined how much foodScott would need to maintainhis starting body weight, thencut that. He couldn’t gain weightif he stuck with the diet. As hesaw the weight coming off, heexperienced what he called his“Eureka! Factor.”

“It took me starting to lose theweight to hang in there,” saidWestbrook. “Seeing the naturalweight loss in conjunction withhow I learned about food andexercise through the classeshelped me. I was seeing that Iwasn’t starving and still eatinglarge quantities of food, but theywere healthy foods.”

SPRING 2005 MATTERSN U T R I T I O N

Know?Know?S

InJanuary,theexecutivedirectorof theCenter

released a new five-yearstrategic plan called Vision 2010(see message from the executivedirector). The plan starts with thebold vision statement to “becomethe leading nutrition andpreventive medicine researchcenter” in the world.

Dr. Claude Bouchard, the executivedirector of the Center, is a firm

believer in strategic planning, andmade it his first priority uponassuming leadership of the Centersix years ago. He called for theCenter’s first five-year plan and ledto its development. An ambitiousplan, it called for nearly doublingthe size of the Center withincreased research, more faculty,and new construction of facilitiesfor both of the Center’s broaddivisions - basic science researchand clinical research.

The new Vision 2010 picks upwhere the first plan left off,including the unfinished work ofbuilding a new clinical research

facility. Long needed, the facilityenvisioned by the plan will alleviatethe crowded clinical buildingconstructed as part of the originalcenter in 1986. But construction isonly part of the plan, whichhighlights ten priorities in basicresearch, clinical research, andsupport and facilities. You may seethe plan and all its priorities atwww.pbrc.edu under “Vision2010,” or may request a copy fromthe communications office at 225-763-2599.

Activity will begin soon in what theplan calls “Phase I” of clinicalexpansion – an addition to the

continued on page 13

SHAPING UP FOR SUCCESS:

�nlocking the �ecrets of�utrition and Health

Scott Westbrook, A CALERIE Participant

H O W P B R C C H A N G E S L I V E S

continued on page 6continued on page 10

A VISION TO BE THE BESTA VISION TO BE THE BEST

PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER AND FOUNDATION

DID YOUDID YOU

PBRF & PBRC NL_FEB 05.wpj 4/5/05 12:06 PM

ownership of the entirefacility for research andscientific meetings.

Approved by the LSUSystem Board ofSupervisors at its Januarymeeting, the $5 millionexpansion and renovationwill be underwritten bythe Pennington Medical Foundation trust,which is dedicated to capital expansion atthe Center.

“We are committed to finding a nutritionalapproach to reducing and controlling theepidemic of obesity, metabolic syndrome,diabetes and other diseases,” said Dr.

Bouchard. The expansion will include atwo-story addition to the existingconference center and renovation andremodeling of existing seminar rooms andclassroom space.

“Researchers who move into the new space

two

I am pleased to report a significant moment inour efforts to chart the future of thePennington Biomedical Research Center. Formore than a year, we have worked to develop anew 5-year strategic plan. In January, wepresented it to the Board of Supervisors of theLouisiana State University System, where it waswarmly received. I was especially gratified tohear the comments of the chairman of theboard, Mr. Stewart Slack, who told the boardthat the plan was “outstanding…aggressive andachievable.”

That plan, Vision 2010, is the product of hardand dedicated work on the part of our facultyand upper management colleagues. It openswith a bold vision statement, setting a courseto become the world’s “leading” nutritionresearch center. The plan defines 10 prioritiesfor our research, education and supportdepartments. I invite you to read them indetail on our website www.pbrc.edu underVision 2010 or to request a copy from ourCommunications Office.

We intend to create a new division - Nutritionand the Brain - which is a natural next step forour neuroscience research. One key message ofthe plan is that we intend to increase the depthof our science in the next five years. Forinstance, we will increase our expertise in

developmental biology, stem cell biology,nutrient sensing, cell signaling, genetics andepigenetics. This faculty expansion will make itpossible for us to focus on the role of nutritionand of specific nutrients in all phases of life,including maternal nutrition and its effects onfetal development. To achieve these goals, itwill be necessary to increase the size of ourcomparative biology facility by about 50%.

The same philosophy will prevail for thegrowth of our clinical research program.However, in this case, the top priority is to findthe resources to build a new clinical researchfacility to relieve the stress on our currentlyovercrowded building and create room to grow.Additionally, we will recruit new faculty innutritional epidemiology, physical activityepidemiology, genetic epidemiology,biostatistics, and health promotion tostrengthen our research in our population andprevention research programs. We also intendto increase our expertise in pediatric obesityand diabetes, aging, metabolic syndrome,physical activity and wellness, and minorityhealth behaviors.

We also have made plans to expand ourDivision of Education. The focus will be onthe growth of our postdoctoral program and

our professionaleducation efforts.Special emphasiswill be placed onthe recruitment ofclinical fellows.

These are not small challenges. Recruitingtalented and productive scientists to relocate tothe Center, winning highly competitive researchgrants in ever larger numbers and, mostimportantly, gaining an increase in stateappropriations are not simple undertakings.However, they are worth our best effort. Duringthe next five years, the Center will spend a totalof $350 million for operation and constructioncosts. This growing level of activity is notwithout substantial economic benefits for BatonRouge and the state of Louisiana. Thus, thenumerous contributions made by our scientiststo the health and well being of the citizens ofthis state and the nation are nicelycomplemented by the growing economic impactof the Center.

Claude Bouchard, PhDExecutive Director

Message from the Executive Director of thePennington Biomedical Research Center

Message from the Executive Director of thePennington Biomedical Research Center

Dr. Claude BouchardExecutive Director

PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER’SGROWING RESEARCH PROMPTS EXPANDED

POPULATION AND PREVENTION STUDIES

As part of its new Vision 2010 strategicplan, Pennington Biomedical ResearchCenter (PBRC) will expand its growingpopulation and prevention studies program,according to PBRC Executive Director Dr.Claude Bouchard. With the help of thePennington Medical Foundation and thePennington Biomedical ResearchFoundation, construction will soon begin ona 14,000 sq. foot addition, called ClinicalResearch Expansion - Phase I: Populationand Prevention Studies.

The construction is part of an agreementreached with the conference center owners,Pennington Medical Foundation, and itsoperators, the Pennington BiomedicalResearch Foundation, for PBRC to assume continued on page 14

Population and Prevention Studies Expansion


F O U N D A T I O N N E W S

Tim Barfield joined The ShawGroup, Inc. in 1994 as GeneralCounsel and Secretary and hasserved in numerous positions,including Senior Vice President and

the President of Shaw Environmental &Infrastructure, Inc., one of the largestenvironmental and infrastructure engineeringcompanies in the United States; Senior VicePresident of Special Projects for The Shaw GroupInc.; and Assistant to the President, Vice Presidentof Operations, and others. Prior to joining Shaw,Barfield practiced law and also served as Law

three

Dear Friends,

It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I accept the chairmanship of thePennington Biomedical Research Foundation. This is an important time for theorganization as we seek to meet the needs of a growing research institution. The PenningtonBiomedical Research Center's mission of disease prevention and its focus on nutrition research hastremendous merit at a time that our state and country are facing a life-threatening epidemic posedby obesity and other nutrition related diseases. We cannot wait for the next generation to find asolution. We must act now.

The Pennington Center, in only its 16th year, has enjoyed tremendous growth and success andcurrently includes a faculty of 70 and support staff of nearly 600. A majority of the funding comesfrom federal sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, andthe Department of Defense, for research on nutrition and preventive medicine. Its initial constructionwas, in and of itself, a special gift from Doc and Irene Pennington. Much of those trust funds havebeen leveraged through construction of laboratories and facilities. Many groups, businesses, andindividuals provided start-up funds for staffing and equipment, and the state of Louisiana earmarkedan annual allocation. All of these groups should be recognized for their foresight and vision.

But none of these resources is enough to fuel its full growth POTENTIAL! The Pennington Center isat a crossroads, embarking on a major opportunity to expand--perhaps tripling the number ofemployees in the next 10 to 12 years. If we will work together to help expand the Center, addingthe laboratories and clinics needed for this astounding research potential, great strides will be madefrom a health and economic impact.

I invite you to share the vision of our board of directors to support the Pennington BiomedicalResearch Foundation as it strives to help the Center reach its goals. (See the article on Vision 2010 onPage 1.)

We can all be a part of the solution. For every dollar of support, the Center is successful in attracting$4 in federal and private funding. We must think about what we can give and how that investmentwill be multiplied fourfold.

In this publication alone, you will find many ways to support the Center. Your support and gift, nomatter the size, is extremely appreciated and will make a difference.

With warm regards,John Noland, ChairPennington Biomedical Research Foundation

NOLAND NAMEDPENNINGTON BIOMEDICALRESEARCH FOUNDATIONCHAIRMAN

John B. Noland has been electedchairman of the board of directors ofthe Pennington Biomedical ResearchFoundation. Other newly electedofficers are Immediate Past ChairKevin P. Reilly, Sr., Reilly Enterprises;Vice Chair Paula P. de la Bretonne,community activist; Treasurer C.Brent McCoy, Lamar Advertising, andSecretary Pat Cheramie, retiredbroadcast management executive.

New board members elected to serveon the board include Tim Barfield,The Shaw Group, Inc.; MaxineCormier, lobbyist; Madhu Beriwal,Innovative Emergency Management,Incorporated; Kevin R. Lyle, RELco,L.L.C.; and J. Gerard “Jerry” Jolly,KPMG, L.L.P.

The Pennington Biomedical ResearchFoundation is dedicated to supportingthe Pennington Biomedical ResearchCenter and its mission to promotehealthier lives through research andeducation in nutrition and preventivemedicine.

In accepting the leadership role,Noland challenged the board to workenergetically to increase awareness ofthe importance of the PenningtonBiomedical Research Center as aneconomic force in the state. “Manyindividuals, organizations andfoundations have helped the Centermove forward in its early years. These,however, were baby steps as theCenter built its reputation. It is nowincumbent upon this community tocontinue to enhance this world-renowned institution and its needs foradditional funding.”

Special Thanks

The PBRF board of directors and staffextend a sincere "Thank You" to

Thomas L. Frazer for his dedicationand service to the board.

Five business leaders and community activistshave recently been appointed to the PenningtonBiomedical Research Foundation Board ofDirectors.

Joining the board as new members are Tim A.Barfield, Jr., president and chief operating officerof The Shaw Group, Inc; Madhu Beriwal, chiefexecutive officer of Innovative EmergencyManagement, Incorporated; Maxine Cormier,lobbyist; J. Gerard “Jerry” Jolly, managing partnerof KPMG, L.L.P., and Kevin R. Lyle, presidentand chief executive officer of RELco, L.L.C.


Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation Welcomes Five New Board Members

A Message from the ChairmanPennington Biomedical Research Foundation


four

Dr. Jianping Ye

Dr. Jianping Ye joined the faculty at theCenter in 2001. He received his M.D.from Beijing University, taught there fora short while, then came to the UnitedStates as a visiting scientist at theNational Institutes of Health (NIH),where he began his work on biochemicalsignaling and gene regulation ofimmune responses. Shortly afterward, heembarked on a journey of personaldiscovery of his talents as interesting ashis lab discovery. “I didn’t knowanything about insulin resistance orType II diabetes when I came here,” hesaid.

Dr. Ye’s specialty is in the analysis ofsignaling molecules, including severalyears of cancer studies. Ye moved fromNIH to Johns Hopkins as a cancerresearcher, studying breast cancer. Yesoon moved to NIOSH (NationalInstitute for Occupational Safety andHealth), a federal agency known forcreating standards for hazardous materialprocedures and personal safetyequipment, where he explored howheavy metals cause cancer. While there,Ye came across an advertisement for afunctional foods specialist at the Center.Ironically, the heavy metals heunderstood – chromium, cobalt, zincand the like - are toxic only in overdose.In trace levels, they are essentialnutrients. Ye responded, and only afterarriving here did he learn of theconnection between fatty acids andinsulin resistance. In a bold move, Dr.Yeapplied for and won $2.5 million dollarsfrom the NIH and the AmericanDiabetes Association. To promotecollaboration and awareness of relateddiscoveries, Ye organized a network ofcolleagues at the Center called the“Insulin Resistance Interest Group.”That network has now become anational effort, with membersthroughout the United States, meaningYe is setting a brisk pace in his field. Hehas recently been invited to judge otherinvestigators’ work by reviewing grantproposals at NIH.

At normal levels, free fatty acids are essentialnutrients to build new cells, but high levels offatty acids can cause harm. They trigger areaction called the “Inflammation Response,”causing our cells and organs to becomeimpaired in function. Dr. Ye believes thatperhaps the important series of events is this:increased fatty acids cause the inflammationresponse, and the inflammation responsetriggers insulin resistance, which is a steptoward diabetes.

Ye has mapped out two suspect series ofmolecular reactions that he likens to theaccelerator and brake on a car engine. Wheninsulin hits the blood stream, it attaches to thesurface of muscle cells and acts as the driver,with one foot on the accelerator and one on thebrake, making sure muscle cells take up extraglucose at just the right speed. In this case thebrake is one series of biochemical reactions thattell the cell to stop taking up glucose, and theaccelerator is a separate series of biochemicalreactions that tell muscle cells to speed theiruptake of glucose. Insulin resistance may simplybe a signal gone awry, causing the brake toremain on, preventing cells from consumingglucose.

Ye’s search is to find the exact molecular stepsthat keep the brake on, and he believes one ofthe biochemical steps in the inflammationresponse may be the culprit.

“If we know how insulin resistance occurs, wecan develop means to combat it, perhaps bydecreasing free fatty acids,” said Ye.

Some anti-inflammation drugs already exist.Aspirin is one, so is glucocorticoid. However, Yesays, these drugs act very broadly, meaning they

r. Jianping Ye is becoming an expert inhighly complex domino effects, even though hecan’t see them. Ye wants to stop Type IIDiabetes, but to do so he must observe severalseries of falling dominos that are smaller thanmicroscopic; they are molecular.

Dr. Ye is slowly unraveling a collection ofbiochemical reactions that seem to lead to TypeII diabetes in obese individuals. If he can do it,the work could lead to an eventual cure. Hespends hours in the laboratory exploring,searching and experimenting to discover hiddenstrings of molecular actions and reactions that -like a complex string of falling dominos - startin our blood stream and pass right through ourcells’ walls. Dr. Ye calls these domino-likereactions a signaling network in which the verylast domino to fall (the last in a series ofbiochemical reactions) signals the cell to startconsuming glucose from the blood stream.

Sometimes the signaling network is broken.When that happens our cells don’t get the signalto consume glucose (sugar), and our bloodsugar goes up. The result is often Type IIdiabetes, and Dr. Ye is determined to preventthis crippling and often deadly disease.

Dr. Ye began his work with a generalobservation that obese individuals are likely tohave a condition called insulin resistance, whichmeans their body has lost its ability to respondto a signal from insulin, and that can lead toType II diabetes. Here’s how: our muscle cellsuse blood sugar (glucose) for nutrition, but ourmuscles must be told to start consumingglucose. This occurs when the pancreas detectsincreased levels of sugar in the blood, usuallyafter eating. Our pancreas then producesinsulin, which delivers a chemical message toour cells to consume glucose. The condition ofinsulin resistance means something is keepingthe cells from acting on that message.

That explanation, by the way, is only a simplegenerality. Dr. Ye is searching out severalindividual biochemical steps involving dozens ofmolecules. There is a fine point, however, thathas captured Dr. Ye’s attention. Obeseindividuals also have elevated levels of fattyacids in their blood.

D

FROM THE LAB


LABORATORY DOMINOS

Dr. Jianping Ye


Family, friends and associates of John W.Barton, Sr. gathered at a special reception tohonor his work for the Pennington BiomedicalResearch Center and to recognize theestablishment of the John W. Barton, Sr.Endowed Chair in Genetics and Nutrition. Thereception, hosted by the PenningtonBiomedical Research Foundation (PBRF), washeld recently to salute and recognize more than60 individuals and institutions that donated$625,000 to endow a new Chair in his name.

During the ceremony, PBRF Chairman JohnNoland and PBRF Chief Executive OfficerJennifer Winstead welcomed more than 100guests, including Barton’s daughter, Annette,his son and daughter-in-law, John and Peggy,and his granddaughter, Annette Hutchison.Barton’s daughter, Mary Scott Barton ofHouston, was unable to attend.

Lee Griffin, who served as chairman of the eightmember development committee for the BartonChair, shared antidotes from Barton’s past,particularly his tireless efforts to providedirection, guidance, and fund development forthe Center since its inception more than sixteenyears ago. Griffin also talked about Barton andhis accomplishments as a businessman, farmer,and community leader. Other members of thespecial development committee attended thereception: John Campbell, Jr., David Ellison, Jr.,Annette Barton, Charles Lamar, III, HermannMoyse, Jr., John Noland, Tom Phillips, andKevin Reilly, Sr. Paula Pennington de laBretonne, vice-chairman of the PenningtonBiomedical Research Foundation, made theformal presentation to Barton, which was aspecially crafted commemorative plaque with abrass medallion and etched relief of thePennington Center. In her presentation, de laBretonne read the inscription: “WithAppreciation and In Honor of John W. Barton,Sr. and in Recognition of the Family, Friends,and Associates who created the John W. Barton,Sr. Endowed Chair in Genetics and Nutrition atthe Pennington Biomedical Research Center.”

After the presentation, Dr. Claude Bouchard,executive director of the Center, explained thatthe recipient of the new chair will research thebiological basis of human variation response tonutrients, uncover the genes that may enhancethe risk of diseases as a result of long-term

five

John W. Barton, Sr. (center) and his family at therecognition event: granddaughter Annette BartonHutchison, daughter, Annette, and his son and

daughter-in-law, John and Peggy Barton.

exposure to certain nutrients and foods, andother issues involving genes and nutrition.Dr. William Jenkins, president of the LSUSystem, lauded the group for the depth andbreadth of their gifts and its long-standingeffects on the Center, the community andstate.

John W. Barton, Sr. Honored and RecognizedDonors Create John W. Barton, Sr. Chair in Genetics and Nutrition

Dr. Cohen Presents Built EnvironmentIssues on Obesity at Foundation EventThe Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation welcomedDeborah A. Cohen, M.D., M.P.H., senior natural scientist fromthe RAND Corporation, to the fall Visiting Scientist DinnerSeries. The educational series is sponsored by Hibernia NationalBank to introduce innovative research to the community and thefaculty at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

Dr. Cohen spoke to the group of Foundation supporters on"Obesity and the Built Environment: How our Everyday WorldMakes Us Fat." She presented data on the correlation between thedecreasing access to parks and recreation areas and the escalatingrates of obesity. Dr. Cohen is continuing her research onenvironmental issues facing America and the government’s role in regulating environmental factorsaffecting obesity.

More than 60 supporters of the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation attended the event. Dr.Cohen separately presented research to the faculty at the Pennington Center, sharing data andresearch statistics on the escalating obesity epidemic across America and its relationship to ourenvironment.

Hibernia National Bank SeniorVice President, Baton Rouge

Commercial Banking Janet Rack,PBRF Board Member Thomas

Frazer, Visiting Scientist Dr.Deborah Cohen, and PBRC

Executive Director Dr. ClaudeBouchard

(left to right) Pennington Biomedical ResearchCenter Executive Director Dr. Claude Bouchard,Pennington Biomedical Research FoundationChairman John Noland, PBRF Vice ChairmanPaula Pennington de la Bretonne, Honoree JohnW. Barton, Sr., and Development CommitteeChair G. Lee Griffin

Jewell Named Chief FinancialOfficer At Pennington BiomedicalResearch Foundation

J. Brad Jewell, CPA, MPA,was recently named ChiefFinancial Officer by thePennington BiomedicalResearch Foundation boardof directors. Jewell waspreviously associate executive

director of the PBRF and has worked withthe PBRF and the Pennington MedicalFoundation since September 2000. He alsoserves as the director of accounting for thePennington Medical Foundation and forPennington Discoveries, Inc., as well as thecorporate secretary/treasurer of PMCT,L.L.C. Jewell was licensed to practice as aCertified Public Accountant in 1999. Hereceived his undergraduate degree inAccounting from LSU, and recentlycompleted a masters degree in HealthcareManagement at the LSU PublicAdministration Institute. “We acknowledgethe outstanding work of Brad Jewell andrecognize his contributions to the PBRF,”said PBRF CEO and President JenniferWinstead in making the recommendation tothe board.

J. Brad Jewell



existing C. B. Pennington, Jr. NutritionEducation and Conference Center (seepopulation and prevention studies story onpage 2). In recent years, researchers havereached out from the Center to study theaffects of environment on nutrition andobesity, including in-school and ruralprojects. Clinical researchers are winninggrants in this area and anticipate growingthis area of research. In fact, one of the tenpriorities is to “expand clinical research,population research and imaging facilities.”

Other clinical priorities include growingfaculty and expertise in pediatric obesity,aging, physical activity and wellness, andmetabolic syndrome; secure NationalInstitutes of Health(NIH) center grantsand designation as anNIH General ClinicalResearch Center(GCRC).

On the basic researchside, priorities are toestablish a division ofnutrition and the brain;expand and enhancebiological core services;and increase expertisein developmentalbiology and geneticepidemiology (thestudy of disease.)

Education divisionpriorities are to expandthe postdoctoralprogram; expandcommunity and professional educationefforts and to pursue partnerships toestablish a research-based wellness center.

These efforts are not without a cost,however, and Vision 2010 anticipates anincrease in funding in several areas, mostlyfrom federal research grants. However, theCenter and its supporting foundations willall take on the challenge of increasingfunding in the way of increased stateappropriations (which amount to about 20-percent of projected revenues) and increasedphilanthropy. In all, the Center’s plan callsfor $350 million in revenues and expensesduring the next five years, with annual

revenues increasing from about $38 millionin 2004 to $65 million in 2010.

Traditionally, a formula for success has beena 1-to-3 or 4 ratio; if the state contributes adollar to the Center, its researchers can winbetween 3 and 4 dollars. The state currentlycontributes about $10 million per year to theCenter.

The faculty has been so successful in winningcompetitive research grants, that thosededicated research funds now outstrip the20-percent historical level from the state.That actually puts a burden on the Center tocome up with means to cover costs associatedwith expensive research not covered by thegrant funds.

The PenningtonBiomedical ResearchFoundation board ofdirectors has taken thechallenge issued in Vision2010 to raise $10 millionin funds during the next5 years that cancontribute to keypriorities. TheFoundation is, in fact,planning an energizedcampaign on multiplefronts on behalf of theCenter.

As a campus of the LSUSystem, the PenningtonBiomedical ResearchCenter is a world leaderin obesity research anddisease prevention because

its generous founder, Doc Pennington,displayed tremendous wisdom about thefuture of health research. In doing so, heprovided the laboratories and facilities butchallenged the community and state to fillthe buildings with top-notch researchers andworld-renowned scientists.

Although the Center has surpassed Doc’svision – it is now the largest academicallybased nutrition research center in the world– Vision 2010 calls for it to become the bestin the world.

With the continued support of these publicand private partners, Vision 2010 willbecome a reality.

six

To fulfill its ongoing mission to supportand enhance the work of the PenningtonBiomedical Research Center, thePennington Biomedical ResearchFoundation kicked off a volunteer,employee fundraising campaign inDecember. The kick-off was held duringthe annual staff service award program heldannually to recognize five, ten, and fifteen-year service award recipients.

The employee fundraising program, led bytwo long-time employees of the Center,Robert "Bob" McNeese and Pam Fisher,was held over a two-week period. Theyappealed to the staff by saying, "Your giftto the Foundation is greatly appreciated,and benefits our work here by helping tofill funding gaps and needed resources. Allgifts are totally voluntary, confidential andtax deductible."

The campaign culminated at the EmployeeHoliday party and was considered a successwith more than 75 employees pledging giftsof more than $20,000 to the Center for2005. This annual appeal affords facultyand support staff with the opportunity toparticipate in fundraising efforts vital to theCenter’s work. "The campaigndemonstrates that giving starts at home,"said McNeese and Fisher, in thanking thosewho participated in the voluntary program.

Vision 2010continued from page 1

Employees PledgeSupport to the

Pennington Foundation

Bob McNeese, director of facilitiesmanagement, and Pam Fisher, businessmanager, served as volunteer co-chairsof the Employee Fundraising Campaign

10 Priorities of Vision 2010

1. Establish a division on nutrition and thebrain.

2. Acquire greater capability incomparative biology and transgenics.

3. Grow expertise in developmentalbiology and genetic epidemiology.

4. Expand clinical, population andprevention research.

5. Grow expertise in fetal and maternalnutrition, pediatric obesity, aging andmetabolic syndrome, and physicalactivity and wellness.

6. Secure NIH center grants, securesatellite NIH-funded General ClinicalResearch Center.

7. Grow postdoctoral program.8. Grow community and professional

education activities.9. Establish research-based wellness center.10. Grow support functions to sustain

research growth.


Aglance at the growing number of newspaper, television andmagazine stories published about the Center reveals a common theme…the possibility of future rewards for the Center and for Baton Rouge frominventions or discoveries. However, making discoveries through researchis one thing, maturing those ideas to marketability is another; and hittingit big with a major money-maker is yet another level altogether. Theprocess of identifying marketable ideas from research and getting theminto the business sector bears the rather bland moniker of “technologytransfer,” – literally transferring new knowledge into the business sector –but the reality is the road to commercialization is a fascinating blend ofdiscovery, salesmanship, law and human personality.

The last five years of the center have produced an upswing in the interestin technology transfer and in real activity. The activity has risen naturallywith a growth in faculty and research funding, but also due to a changein culture. Anne Jarrett, the Center’s attorney for technology transfer, isone result of that cultural shift. Her position and mission were elevatedand made to report directly to Executive Director Claude Bouchard.Currently, the Center’s leadership is encouraging and assisting Centerresearchers to think about future marketability of their findings and totake steps early to protect and nurture them.

Jarrett says her role is to help license, protect and manage intellectualproperty by working with researchers or technicians to identify anythingthey “discover, invent or create” that may turn into a marketable item,such as specialized research software, a compound or drug, a laboratorydevice or even an assessment tool for nutritionor eating behavior evaluations. Jarrett hasformed a technology transfer committeepopulated by basic and clinical researchers,patent attorneys, and outside business experts in thebiotechnology field. Lately, some news articles havepointed out a mindset among someacademicians to protect their findings, but notpursue them. Jarrett and her committee have amore proactive philosophy. “The whole point ofpatenting something,” she said, “is to commercializeit, not get a patent and let it sit in the corner.”

The Center, however, is in a position that must be made clear to all thosewho may be waiting for the big pay off. The Center’s mission is toenhance lives through research and education. Large corporations pourgreat amounts of money into “research and development” specifically tofind and market new products. The Center carries out only half thatprocess – excellent research. Center researchers, according to Jarrett, areso far ahead of development that their findings may ultimately be only apiece of a final marketable product.

“On average, about half of discoveries in a university setting end up withsome potential to go another step, meaning half of identified, protected,intellectual property never goes all the way to market. Here at the Center,we are so specialized, only about a third of our discoveries, so far, haveany level of market potential,” said Jarrett.

Also, The Center isnot a business.“We’re not inbusiness per se.”Jarrett said, “That’snot the purpose ofa universityaffiliatedinstitution. We’rean entity trying tocommercializediscoveries, fuel theeconomic engine,but not be inbusiness.”

Jarrett’s cautionary note, though, is to not expect or plan for a grandslam. “Those are few,” she said. Jarrett points to two huge moneywinners: Gatorade from the University or Florida, and Taxol, a successfulcancer drug from Florida State University. Florida’s State University’s totalroyalty revenue before Taxol was $500,000. The year Taxol hit themarket, that figure skyrocketed to $58.2 million. “Everyone wants one ofthose, but those are the only two,” Jarrett said. “The best plan ismaximize all revenue possibilities with a steady stream, steady growth,and regular successes.”

The Center may be heading in that direction. Forexample, for the year 2002-2003, TulaneUniversity as a whole produced about 50technology disclosures, the first document created

by a researcher to note a possible discovery. The Centerlast year approached nearly half that number, with far

fewer faculty.

Jarrett’s role is to let researchers know she is open,accessible and willing to create those technology

disclosures. That starts a process of thinking about the future,for the researcher and the center. From that moment, Jarrett and theresearcher, backed by the technology transfer committee, blend theirknowledge with the uniqueness of the discovery and its potential todetermine how far it may go, and start down the road to licensing if thediscovery is strong enough. Currently, Jarrett is working with three start-up companies built on discoveries made at the Center.

A recent audit and report of the entire Louisiana State University Systemtechnology transfer methods and processes pointed out the Center isproceeding rather well.

“We are in a good place at the Center, and in the state to move thingsalong in a good way,” Jarrett said, “ I think we are going to see a moresavvy, mature way of looking at commercialization. Not a ‘magic bullet,’but even, sustained growth.”

P E N N I N G T O N B I O M E D I C A L R E S E A R C H F O U N D A T I O N

Taking Research to Market – fast and high or slow and steady?

Center technology transfer attorney AnneJarrett discusses with Ken Eilertsen, Ph.D.,

legal details of a corporation based ondiscoveries in his lab.

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“We are in a good place at the Center,

and in the state to move things along

in a good way.”


research at the Pennington BiomedicalResearch Center, proudly recognized the MarieEdana Corcoran Endowed Chair in PediatricObesity and Diabetes, funded with a$1,000,000 donation from Our Lady of theLake Foundation; the John S. McIlhennyEndowed Chair in Health Wisdom, fundedwith a $600,000 donation from the CoypuFoundation; and the Peggy M. PenningtonCole Endowed Chair in Maternal Biology andthe Risk of Obesity, funded with a $600,000donation from the Irene W. and C.B.Pennington Foundation and the CommunityFoundation for Southeastern Michigan.

Also attending was LSU System President Dr.William Jenkins, Commissioner of HigherEducation Dr. E. Joseph Savoie, and RolandToups, chairman of the Louisiana Board ofRegents.


The Lod Cook Alumni Center on the LSUcampus was the setting for a special receptionheld recently to honor the donors of three newEndowed Chairs at the Pennington BiomedicalResearch Center. The Louisiana Board ofRegents sponsored the award ceremony toformally announce the matching grant fundingto endow the new Chairs.

Honored and recognized for their generosity atthe event were representatives from Our Ladyof the Lake Foundation, the CoypuFoundation, and the Irene W. and C.B.Pennington Foundation.

The Louisiana Board of Regents announced itsmatching funds of $1.2 million to the $2.2million gifted to the Pennington Center forthe new Chairs. At the event, Dr. DonnaRyan, associate executive director of clinical

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Dr. DeGronzo Speaks on Diabetes Prevention

The Pennington Biomedical Research Foundationhosted its fourth 2004 Scientific Dinner inDecember at the Pennington Biomedical ResearchCenter. The event featured the noted physicianand scientist, Dr. Ralph Anthony DeFronzo, ofthe Texas Diabetes Institute.

DeFronzo, an endocrinologist and specialist indiabetes, spoke on "Type II Diabetes: What We

know andWhat WeNeed toKnow." Hispresentationincluded datafrom researchfindings onthe positiveaffects ofexercise anddiet onpreventingthe onset ofdiabetes andother obesity-

related diseases. DeFronzo is a graduate ofHarvard Medical School and is currently directorof the diabetes research unit at the University ofTexas Health Science Center in San Antonio anddeputy director of the Texas Diabetes Institute.

The Scientific Dinner Series is sponsored by thePennington Biomedical Research Foundation tohighlight medical research and its impact onimproving and enhancing quality of life issues andto honor those individuals who support the workof the Center.

The series is underwritten by Hibernia NationalBank, which that evening announced itssponsorship of the series through 2005.

Attending the event were more than 65 donors tothe Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation,including Paula Pennington de la Bretonne, vicechairman of the Pennington Biomedical ResearchFoundation; Dr. Donna Ryan, associate executivedirector of clinical research at the PenningtonBiomedical Research Center; Michael Wack, headof commercial banking for Hibernia NationalBank’s Southwest Region; John Noland, incomingchairman of the PBRF board of directors, and hiswife Virginia; Dr. Eric Ravussin, chief of thedivision of health and performance enhancementand holder of the Douglas L. Gordon chair inDiabetes and Metabolism; and Jennifer Winstead,PBRF president and chief executive officer.

Reception Held to Honor Donors of Three Endowed Chairs

Dr. Eric Ravussin, professor ofhuman physiology; Guest Lecturerand Scientist, Dr. Ralph AnthonyDeFronzo, deputy director of theTexas Diabetes Institute; ScientificDinner sponsor Mike Wack, HiberniaBank executive vice president; andJennifer Winstead, PBRF presidentand chief executive officer.

About the Louisiana Board of RegentsSupport Fund

In 1986, Congress determined that Louisiana andother coastal states should receive a portion ofrevenues earned from federal leases on certainoffshore oil and gas tracts, known as the 8g zone,in the Gulf of Mexico. The Louisiana Legislaturecreated a fund to be used for educationalprograms. A portion of the annual earnings isallocated to the Board of Regents Support Fund,which is used to match gifts for endowed chairs orprofessorships at colleges and universities. Theguidelines for matching gifts for endowed chairsallow for a matching grant of $400,000 for eachendowment of $600,000 funded by private gifts.The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is inthe process of submitting an additional matchinggift grant application to the Board of Regents forthe new John W. Barton Endowed Chair inGenetics and Nutrition.

Dr. E. Joseph Savoie, commissioner of highereducation; Roland Toups, chairman, LouisianaBoard of Regents; Julie Callihan, CoypuFoundation; Dr. Donna Ryan, associate executivedirector of clinical research, PBRC; Polly & JohnHernandez; William Callihan, Coypu Foundation;and (back) Dr. William L. Jenkins, president, LSUSystem;

Dr. E. Joseph Savoie, commissioner of highereducation; William Moore, executive director ofOur Lady of the Lake Foundation; Roland Toups,Louisiana Board of Regents chair; Dr. DonnaRyan, associate director, PBRC; Dr. Roberta Vicari,Our Lady of the Lake chief of pediatrics; Robert C.Davidge, chief executive officer, Our Lady of theLake Regional Medical Center; and Dr. WilliamJenkins, president, LSU System.

Dr. E. Joseph Savoie, commissioner of highereducation; Roland Toups, chair, LA Board of Regents;

Dr. Donna Ryan, PBRC associate director; Peggy M.Pennington Cole, endowed chair honoree; Paula

Pennington de la Bretonne vice chair, PBRF; and Dr.William Jenkins, president, LSU System.


DR. BOUCHARD AND COLLEAGUES CONTINUE TO GUIDE OTHERS

nine

that line the pathway tothe Center’s MetabolicKitchen. All the coolersare then loaded into alarge van.

Upon arriving at LivingFaith, the coolers areunpacked and the meal is ready to begin. After a pre-eating weigh-in administered by research specialists,participants enjoy the meal, served by churchemployees. Twenty meals were scheduled for the firstnight at Living Faith and that number is expected togrow nightly.

A clean up quickly follows the meal, and it’s back toPennington for the van, coolers, and some rather tiredresearchers.

"It’s been nice to go out into the community," saidMost. "It’s a lot of work, but it is going very well."

Ryan Clark, a ‘Get Readi’ participant, is "elated"about receiving meals at Living Faith. Clark lives inBaker and estimates that the new feeding site will takeoff about an hour of his rush-hour driving time andbe more convenient with his work schedule.

"I couldn’t sleep last night because I was so excited tocome," said Clark.

In addition to the Living Faith Church, a ‘Get Readi’feeding site has been designated in Bogalusa(Louisiana), and similar preparations are in themaking for Southern University.

A ‘hearty’ study well underway at PenningtonBiomedical Research Center (PBRC) now hasresearchers and participants alike saying to themselves,"Ready, Set, GO!" – into the community, that is. In anintense effort to provide better accessibility for some"GET READI!" participants, the Center has begunbranching into the Living Faith Church community.

Before the expansion into north Baton Rouge, "GETREADI," Gene-Environment Trial of Response inAfrican Americans to Dietary Interventions,participants were to eat dinnertime meals at the Centerfor 10 weeks. Now, many participants can eat theirmeals and pick up the next day’s breakfast, lunch, andsnack closer to home and work, which may alleviatemany transportation and scheduling difficulties thatmight arise for individuals.

Marlene Most, Ph.D., associate professor and PBRCmetabolic kitchen director, is excited about the study’ssingle newest local feeding site, Living Faith ChristianCenter, located on Winbourne Avenue, as well as theopportunity to trek the message of heart disease acrossthe Baton Rouge area, especially if such a move hingeson the ultimate success and overall progression of the‘Get Readi’ study. Hopefully for Most and hercolleagues, bringing in the food will bring in theresults. "I hope it is making it easier to participate,"said Most.

For the move, however, dieticians, assistants, and foodspecialists face enormous preparation efforts.Transporting food for all participants is just one of themany hurdles of PBRC being on the go.

Once meals and snacks are respectively grouped, thefood is placed into scores of color-designated coolers

“GET READI” STUDY EXPANDS TO REACH NEW NEIGHBORHOODS

Long considered standard fare in the teaching and education of researchers and physicians, The Handbook ofObesity is now published in an expanded 2nd edition. Drs. George A. Bray and Claude Bouchard, the former andcurrent executive directors of the Center, have edited an expansive work in which one volume outlines the causes,prevalence and consequences of obesity treatment and the second volume, subtitled Clinical Applications, servesas a reference for physicians and clinicians treating obesity. The works contain significant data and discussions onthe societal influences of obesity, environmental solutions, and of the stigma and potential discrimination facedby obese individuals.

One reviewer summed it up by writing, “The well-published authors of this edited book represent more than 20institutions and express diverse solutions for the evaluation, prevention, and treatment of obesity.” (Allen S.Levine, Minnesota Obesity Center.)

In a separate publication, also newly printed in a 2nd edition, Dr. Claude Bouchard and colleagues contributesubstantially to the growing body of knowledge on the development of children into adults and the influence ofphysical activity. Book News states that “Growth, Maturation and Physical Activity, 2nd ed., overviews the biologicalprocess of human growth and maturation, and outlines the milestones of motor development and performance…and age-associated and sex-associated variation in body size and composition, responses to exercise duringchildhood and adolescence, and the primary factors that regulate growth and maturation.”

PBRC StaffRecognized

Since the PenningtonBiomedical Research Center(PBRC) first began staffing itsfacility in 1989 and 1990,early employees have had theopportunity to witnessextraordinary change andnotable transition. Recently, aselective six of that initialworkforce still employed bythe Center were honored witha fifteen-year employmentservice award for theirlongtime dedication,commitment, and effort inmolding a very young PBRCinto the highly reputableresearch institution it hasbecome.

George Bray, Ph.D., divisionof clinical obesity andmetabolism chief; CatherineChampagne, Ph.D., professorof nutrition and women’shealth; James Delany, Ph.D.,associate professor; Steve Kelly,business manager of fiscaloperations; Janice Warren,coordinator office of associateexecutive director for clinicalresearch; and David York,associate executive director forbasic research and Boydprofessor, were each given theaward presented in December.

Past fifteen-year employmentservice award recipients stillworking at PBRC include:Ray Allen, Ph.D., coordinatorof information systems(Clinical); Paul Johnson,facilities management; BobMcNeese, director of facilitiesmanagement; Donna Ryan,M.D., associate executivedirector for clinical research;and Yvette Stokes, fiscaladministration.


in the NewsPenningtonin the News

surprising…not everyone benefits equallyfrom exercise. Some are simply geneticallywired to benefit more through lower bloodpressure, lower cholesterol, lower tendencytoward diabetes and cardiovascular disease andlower weight.

Couch Potato - The January 28th issue ofScience published an editorial by Dr. EricRavussin, who offered a review of some newdata that suggests fidgeting, walking, sittingupright and moving around can account for asubstantial use of energy, and may help wardoff weight gain by burning excess calories. Theconclusion came from observations of “couchpotatoes” who agreed to wear devices tomeasure their activity during the day. Themore “couch potato” time spent each day, themore the weight gain.

These articles led to a good deal of exposurefor PBRC in the NY Times, Wall StreetJournal and other national papers.

Dental appliance makes bitessmaller; wearers eat less.

The Los Angeles Times ran a story about a devicetested here at PBRC. Participants in the studyplaced a device in their mouth that fits like anupper retainer. The device lowers the roof of themouth, causing smaller bites. Participants did eatless with it. LA Times reporter Linda Marsa

Women and weight

Dr. Paula Geiselman's remarks on the weightgain/loss episodes during a woman's lifetime willappear in an upcoming issue of the nationalGlamour Magazine, a well-read and widelyreceived popular publication.

Gastric Bypass Surgery - Long-term study

Work by Dr. Claude Bouchard and otherresearchers has been published in the NewEngland Journal of Medicine. The study trackedmore than 600 obese individuals for 10 yearsfollowing three types of bariatric surgery,including gastric bypass as weight-loss and healthenhancing measures. Results showed sustainedweight loss and other beneficial effects, includingan enhanced lifestyle and reduced blood pressureand reduced risk of diabetes.

National Exposure

PBRC got double exposure nationally as twovery popular science journals featured Centerresearchers …

New Year's Resolution - Natureproduced a feature on fitness and exercise inits January 25th issue. The article describesthe work of Drs. Claude Bouchard andTuomo Rankin. Their findings are

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executive director, has recently been selected toreceive two prestigious awards. One is the annualCanadian Federation of Biological Societies(CFBS) Past-President’s Award. Bouchard hasalso been asked to speak to the CFBS annualmeeting at the University of Guelph thissummer, in which the program will featureBouchard’s presentation on obesity and theintegral role of genetics and environmentalfactors in the disease. Bouchard is also the mostrecent recipient of the Earl W. Crampton Award.Speaking at an award ceremony hosted inMontreal recently, Bouchard addressed thebiology of obesity.

Basic Science Building captures topprize in Louisiana

The Basic Science Laboratory building took theblue ribbon as “Best Private Building Project” in

Louisiana. Louisiana Contractor magazine “Bestof 2004” awards ceremony highlighted thedesign and construction for meeting the“sensitivity of the experiments performed here.”The 9-judge panel of architects, designers andconstruction experts based their decision onsolutions to challenges, project management,construction innovation, client service and safety.The general contractor was Milton J. Womack,Inc. and the architects were Post Architects andWasher Hill Lipscomb Architecture, L.L.C.

PBRC sweeps national awards

Researchers at Pennington Biomedical ResearchCenter captured four of the five major awardspresented at the annual meeting of the NorthAmerican Association for the Study of Obesity.Dr. Claude Bouchard, executive director, wonthe Albert Stunkard Lifetime AchievementAward; Dr. David York, associate executive

director for basic research, won the George BrayFounders Award, given for “significantcontributions that advance the scientific orclinical basis for understanding or treatingobesity;” and Dr. Jim Trevaskis, a post-doctoralfellow, won the Ethan Sims Young Investigatoraward for his work on neuronal proteinregulation of energy balance. Trevaskis wonbased on his submitted work and presentationat the national meeting. He completed his workwhile still at the University of Deakin inGeelong, Australia, and is currently workingwith Dr. Eric Ravussin on genetics of calorierestriction.

Also, Jaqueline M. Stephens, an adjunct facultymember of the Center, received an award fromthe journal Obesity Research, which recognizedexemplary research in scientific manuscriptssubmitted for publication.

interviewed Dr. Corby Martin recently. Theresults are making news once again, because theywere published recently in Obesity Research.

Holiday Weight Gain

PBRC dietitian Susan E. Seab, LDN, RD, isonce again in the news. Her review of researchand observations of holiday weight gain (we gainonly a pound or so, not the mythical 10 pounds)were picked up by more than a hundred newsoutlets nationwide.

Superbowl binge eating

Syndicated columnist Bev Bennett (ChicagoTribune) also interviewed Susan Seab for adviceand comments on weight gain and eating duringSuperbowl week. This column appeared in morethan 200 newspapers nationwide during theweek of Superbowl.

Healing aspects of food

Today's Health and Wellness magazine interviewedDr. Elaine Hardman for her insights infunctional foods, especially the healing aspects offood components. Her current work is on fishand fish oils (Omega-3 fatty acids) and theirbeneficial effects on the treatment of breastcancer. Men's Health and Prevention magazinealso interviewed Dr. Hardman which will appearin the near future.

DID YOU KNOW -- CENTER NEWS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1


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create many biochemical reactions.Some do stop inflammation; otherscause side effects. Aspirin in doseshigh enough to stop inflammationcan cause stomach pains andbleeding. Glucocorticoid actuallyincreases the production of glucose inthe liver, which is the opposite effectneeded in insulin resistant patientswho have trouble consuming normallevels of glucose.

This is why Ye wants to discover thespecific molecules that causeinflammation and insulin resistance.“If we know the specific steps, we willhave a pharmacologic target,” he said,“The goal would be to develop a drugto block the inflammation response.”Ye said that a specific drug designedto block the action of a specificmolecule would cause far fewer sideeffects than aspirin, glucocorticoid orother very broadly acting drugs.

Ye’s work may lead to such a drug; hehas little doubt that one day thosesuffering from insulin resistance maysimply fill a prescription that correctsthe problem, stopping diabetes beforeit begins.

LABORATORYDOMINOScontinued from page 4

Four Nutritionally Based Soups Developed and Tested PBRC, JOHN FOLSE AND ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY COLLABORATE ON HEALTHY SOUP PROJECT

Healthier eating in schools is at the thrust of a program called the Healthy Soup Project, which isnow in its second phase of testing nutritionally based soups. After more than a year of preparation,the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Chef John Folse, working with St. Joseph’sAcademy students, have created four healthy Louisiana soups. The students have learned how toassess the nutritional ingredients and reformulate the recipes, lowering the fat and sodium content,while enhancing the taste. One group of students worked in the Center’s food laboratories whileothers worked in the Folse research and development kitchens. Students learned the importance offormula yield and how to attain it, the importance of flowing the scientific method forrepeatability, as well as different methods of viscosity measurement. While the Folse group wasworking with recipe reformulations, the Pennington team was preparing for taste testing.

Then, a separate marketing group promoted the soups for the "roll-out" at the school. Surveys were designed to gain feedback from the students. Nowon the menu are reformulated crawfish, corn and potato soup, broccoli-cheese soup, tomato basil, and seafood gumbo. Overall results are showing thatthe students are giving high marks to the quality and taste of the healthier product, while the students have learned the immense task of what it takesto develop and test a healthy product for marketability. Over 20 St. Joseph’s students volunteered and dedicated more than 500 hours to the design,study, development, and implementation of the healthy soup project, said Pennington Center nutrition expert and food analyst, Dr. CatherineChampagne. In addition, the students are working with the Baton Rouge Diocese School Food Service to develop a marketing plan to make the soupsa regular menu item in area schools. This project was funded through a grant from the Irene W. and C. B. Pennington Foundation.

ield scientists, psychologists and behaviorspecialists from the Center, with the cooperation oflocal school students, are learning if anenvironment that builds lifestyle wisdom canimprove health among youngsters.

Center researchers, driving a large, speciallyequipped recreational vehicle they’ve dubbed the“Wise Mobile,” have worked with area middleschool students for more than a year to createawareness and environmental change towards anenhancement of health and lifestyle habits for thechildren and their families.

The idea they are testing is simple: can solid earlytraining about these issues, coupled with importantchanges in the school or home environment, be auseful tool in the quest for healthier childrennationwide?

Students at St. Thomas More, Redemptorist, St.Isidore, St. Francis Xavier middle school, and St.Theresa in Gonzales climb aboard the Wise Mobilefor measures of body composition and lifestylehabits, as well as health choices.

Now in its second year, Wise Mind researchers areworking to influence the students on lifestylechanges and health and provide them and theirschools and parents with educational materials, aninteractive website and newsletter.

“We call thestudy WiseMind, becausewe’re trying todevelop justthat,” saidTiffany Stewart,Ph.D., one ofthe lead researchers on the project. “The idea weare testing is that developing a total wisdom abouthealth during these critical developmental years willbe an important means of turning our childrentoward a permanent, healthy lifestyle.”

The researchers also work with school staff to makeenvironmental changes such as health programs andeducation on healthy choices. Family members andschool faculty are also encouraged to participate inorder to support and empower the children that areparticipating in the study.

The Pennington team will work with the studentsfor the remainder of the school year to determinehow the Wise Mind idea is most useful. Based onearly positive results, the team has received a federalUSDA grant to expand the program to otherschools across the state, but with a new name:LAHealth. Governor Kathleen Blanco has signed aletter of support to help the researchers in theirrequests to school superintendents and principals tobring LAHealth to their schools in the fall.

F

Pennington Scientists study the effect ofdeveloping a “Wise Mind” for good healthPennington Scientists study the effect of

developing a “Wise Mind” for good health


N E W F A C U L T YAndy Deutsch, Ph.D., Professor, wasrecently named as a member of theCancer Etiology Study Section for theNational Institutes of Health (NIH)Center for Scientific Review. Thisappointment, effective immediatelythrough June 30, 2007, was based onlevel of expertise and achievement shownthrough Dr. Deutsch’s quality of researchaccomplishments, publications, andother awards. This is a prestigious honorand a contribution to PBRC and theCenter’s efforts in enhancing nationalbiomedical research. As a member, Dr.Deutsch will be active in reviewing NIHapplications, providing grantrecommendations and evaluating thestatus of research on the onset andprogression of human cancers.

The presence of Center scientists onstudy sections such as this, is anindication of the depth of experience andknowledge of Center faculty and theirprofile within the scientific community.

Two other faculty member also occupyseats on study sections for grant review.They are:

Richard C. Rogers, Ph.D., who sits onthe NIH IFCN-1 [Neurobiology ofMotivated Behavior] committee as aregular member through 2007, andoccupies two others: The NIH NationalCenter for Research Resources as an hocmember (ZRR1, CM02 - ComparativeMedicine), and the NIH IFCN-2 as anad hoc member.

Jeffrey M. Gimble, M.D., Ph.D, whosits on the NIH Aging and GeriatricSystems Study Section as a regularmember.

Several center scientists are called uponfrequently to sit on other special interestor ad hoc review committees. Facultycurrently sitting as reviewers are:

GEORGE ARGYROPOULOS, PH.D,- NIH/NCI ad hoc reviewer, March

2005

PHIL BRANTLEY, PH.D.- NIH (NIDDK) Panel for Translational

Research for Prevention and Controlof Diabetes

WILLIAM T. CEFALU, M.D- NIH- NCAM Special Emphasis

Panel Review Committee (NCAAMSEP CP-15) PAS 03-038 (Centers ofExcellence for Research onComplementary and AlternativeMedicine (CERC)

CATHERINE CHAMPAGNE, PH.D., RD- USDA's Small Business Innovation

Research Program, Cooperative StateResearch, Education & ExtensionService (CSREES)

PAULA GEISELMAN, PH.D.- NIH (NIDDK), C Committee,

Charter Committee Review Panel forTraining Grants (T32, T35), CareerDevelopment Awards (K01, K08,K23, K24, and R03), and ResearchConference Grants (R13) in obesity,digestive diseases, liver, nutrition, andeating behavior, 2003-present.

W. ELAINE HARDMAN, PH.D.- NCI Scientific Review Group,

Subcommittee G, Education - Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer

Foundation, grant reviewer, CellBiology

- American Institute for CancerResearch, grant reviewer, Panel II

IRINA OBROSOVA, PH.D.- American Diabetes Association grant

panel member- NIH, Neuroscience study section - ad

hoc reviewer

ERIC RAVUSSIN, PH.D.- NIH (Metabolism Study Section),

Currently ad hoc reviewer

ALBERTO TRAVAGLI, PH. D. - NIH study session: ZRG1 DIG-C

(02) (M) meeting

JIANPING YE, M.D.- NIH (NIDDK) ad hoc reviewer in

"Integrative Physiology of Obesityand Diabetes Study Section," 2005

---------------------------------------------NIH = National Institutes of HealthNIDDK = National Institute of Diabetes &

Digestive & Kidney DiseasesIFCN = Integrative, Functional and Cognitive

Neuroscience NCI = National Cancer InstituteUSDA = United States Department of Agriculture

Hong Tu, Ph.D., Instructor.Dr. Tu joined PBRC from theShanghai Jiao-Tong University andwill investigate the molecular meansof leptin transport across the

blood/brain barrier using various techniques,including immunofluorescence, electronmicroscopy, yeast two-hybridization, fusionprotein expression, FRET, microarray, andproteomics. Dr. Tu is not only grateful for theopportunity to explore cell biology of theblood/brain barrier at PBRC, but also for theopportunity to work alongside Dr. Abba Kastin,who is a highly regarded leader and publisher inthe blood/brain barrier field.

Robert Newton, Ph.D., Instructor.Dr. Newton is interested in theinteraction of physical and mentalhealth. Having already spent threeyears at PBRC as a post-doctorate,

Dr. Newton now focuses his studies on AfricanAmerican health relating to physical activity andobesity and will include research on possibleinterventions aimed mainly at increasing adultphysical activity, stimulating weight loss, andpreventing weight gain.

Barry Robert, D.V.M., Ph.D. Dr. Robert is the new attendingveterinarian. Dr. Robert serves asassociate professor and will managethe Comparative Biology Facility.

Prior to PBRC, Dr. Robert served as AssociateDirector of Laboratory Animal Facilities at theUniversity of Mississippi Medical Center inJackson, MS.

FACULTY RECOGNITIONS

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2005 AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Are you aiming to lose weight in 2005? Start bydetermining if your current weight is healthy ornot: calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI). Tofigure out if your weight is on target, overweight,or obese (which carries a greater health risk),divide your weight in pounds by your height ininches squared (multiply your height by itself ).Then, multiply the result by 703. If your BMI isbelow 18.5 you are underweight; between 18.5and 24.9 indicates a normal weight. Work withyour physician on an exercise and nutritionprogram, and use the information and calculatorfor BMI on the Pennington Biomedical ResearchCenter Web site to learn about other weight lossenhancements. You can also sign up for the freeLouisiana On the Move weight loss andmaintenance program on the site www.pbrc.edu.


WOMEN’S WELLNESS DAY PLANNING UNDERWAY

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SHAPING UP FOR SUCCESScontinued from page 1

At first Westbrook judged success by poundslost. Then, he began to notice how histhoughts on food, physical activity, andenergy slowly improved for the better. Itwasn’t long before Westbrook began to telleveryone he could of his newfound way oflife and some handy information to live andeat by – his basal metabolic rate, or theminimum amount of calories needed tosustain the living body in a resting state.Combine the new mental outlook with the32-35 overall pounds he lost in just ninemonths and Westbrook has prepared arecipe for success.

“I was successful because I committed to thestudy and was held accountable,” saidWestbrook. When asked if he would do it allover again, there was no hesitation in saying“yes.” Westbrook, after unlocking the secretsof successful weight loss is continuing to tellanyone willing to listen of his journeytowards a happier and healthier life. Thanksto Westbrook and his dedication, this secretisn’t such a secret anymore.

Last January, John Higdon's blood pressuresoared to nearly 190. He knew thatsignificant changes in his lifestyle were nowa necessity to reverse the conditions and toprevent more serious health problems. Butwhat and how?

While skimming through the localnewspaper, Higdonís wife, Polly, saw anadvertisement regarding a clinical studyunderway at the PBRC. After an initialphysical exam and interviews, John Higdon,a successful Iberville Parish businessman,

entered the program. Each week for sixmonths he worked with a dietitian/interventionist, Katherine Lastor, R.D.

The Weight Loss Maintenance Programincluded education, individual and groupcounseling, daily exercise, and mostimportantly, the DASH diet. The DASHdiet was designed specifically to lower bloodpressure by focusing on foods with a lowsodium count, low-fat dairy products, and9-12 servings of fruits and vegetables eachday. “I was never hungry on this diet,” saidHigdon, who attests to being raised onmeat and potatoes and other Creolespecialties.

This Pennington clinical study is a two-phase program. The first phase was thesame for all participants. Higdon was in asmall group of about 12-15 individuals. Inorder to proceed to the next phase,members of each group had to lose ninepounds. Lastor taught them how to keep afood diary, how to tabulate caloric intake,and the importance of walking a mileEVERY day. Many of the participantswalked the PBRC Lake, while others, likeHigdon, used a treadmill. Lastor alsostressed the importance of keeping weightoff in the midst of difficulties faced bymany who, after reaching their first success,stepped back into old behaviors.

In the next phase, the participants wererandomized into three groups, the first ofwhich receives standard care, where aphysician follows up annually. The secondgroup receives monthly contact with an

interventionist, mostly by phone. Fourtimes a year, participants meet with aninterventionist and evaluate what worksand what does not in terms of thecomplete weight management program.The third group is provided withinteractive technology, and participantsuse a website to maintain motivation aswell as to keep logs and chart progress.

In phase 1, Higdon and his group hadaccess to an interventionist on a weeklybasis and came to the Center weekly. Aftersix months, the group had a combinedloss of almost 200 pounds, an average of16.5 pounds per participant. Higdonhimself lost a total of 29 pounds andattributes most of that to the knowledge,motivation, and confidence he receivedfrom the program. Today, he continues touse his treadmill, exercising five times perweek. Although Higdon continues to takehigh-pressure medication, he has greatlyenhanced his chances for a longer andmuch healthier life.

John Higdon, Weight Loss Maintenance Program participant

The 6th Annual Women's Wellness Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 8, 2005 at the C. B. Pennington, Jr. Conference Center. This annual eventis sponsored by the Women's Nutrition Research Program of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center (PBRC) to promote and advocate nutrition,health and wellness for women. Last year's event drew more than 750 women who participated in health screenings, education seminars, and cookingand exercise demonstrations. Shown here in the photos above are participants, left to right, visiting the PBRC information booth where PBRC staffprovided weight and body fat data; Our Lady of the Lake health promotion representatives conducted a number of free screenings, including a lipidpanel blood test; and McRae's staff produced a Style Show during lunch. Organizations and businesses interested in supporting the upcoming Women'sWellness Day event may contact Rhonda Ruffino at 763-2512. Booths, demonstrations and sponsorships are available.

Participants visit PBRC Booth OLOL Health Screening Staff PBRF and McRae’s Teamed for a Style Show


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FALL SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUMWorld’s Researchers Working Out the BrainScientists know that regular physical exercise can helpprevent or reduce symptoms of various health conditionssuch as obesity and cardiovascular disease. Now they alsorealize exercise helps the brain. Nearly two dozen of themost prominent neuroscience researchers worldwide and 25guest scientists gathered in December at the Lod CookConference Center to focus on a different and relativelyunknown benefit of physical activity – a stronger mind.Scientists eager to understand the effects and functions ofexercise in conjunction with the brain and its functions,convened for “The Neurobiology of Exercise,” a symposiumdesigned to generate discussion on the possibility offavorable aspects of exercise on the central nervous system aswell as its influence in cognition, motivation, mood, stressand immunity, and energy balance.

In addition to physical exercise, the use of motor skills stimulates cognitive function and some types of learning. Detailedunderstanding of these adaptations and mental exercise of knowledge in conjunction with the central nervous system could suggestprevention and treatment of depression, the cognitive decline associated with aging, and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’sand Alzheimer’s.

CLINICAL STUDIES

will work to define the factors andinterventions that have the greatest chance ofmaking a difference in improving the qualityof life, preventing illnesses, increasing adisability-free life span and preventingpremature deaths,” Dr. Bouchard said.

“This component of our broader clinicalresearch program will focus on populationsand will rely on classical epidemiology,nutritional epidemiology, geneticepidemiology, ecological studies, economicalanalysis, and behavioral and psychosocialmodels,” Bouchard said. “The overarchingpurpose is to understand whether we caninduce small but sustained changes in largecommunities of people that will have a bigeconomic and health impact.” The researchwould be performed under the PBRC’sdivision of clinical research.

The new strategic plan for the Center callsfor an entirely new clinic building, whichhas been on the drawing boards in variousforms for more than six years. It was, in fact,a goal of the Center’s first long-range planissued in January 2000.

However, the Pennington MedicalFoundation, in collaboration with thePennington Biomedical ResearchFoundation, concluded that the bestimmediate solution was to convert existingseminar and classroom space in theconference center to scientific facilities forongoing research and grant studies.

PBRC’s Vision 2010 anticipates continuedrapid growth. With more than 600 facultyand support staff working towards a missionof promoting healthier lives through researchand education in nutrition and preventivemedicine, the Center is making importantscientific advancements and growing fasterthan the facilities can maintain.

For several years, the Center has usedtemporary office buildings anchored to a rearparking deck to meet space needs of theclinic. Phase 1 construction may helpalleviate some of this, however, a new clinicalbuilding, dubbed Phase 2 construction, isstill the goal to alleviate the need fortemporary offices.

In the meantime, researchers are planning tomove into the conference center additions.The conference center will remain open toall conferences and meetings scheduledthrough June of 2005. After renovation, aportion of the facility will be retained tohouse the Pennington Biomedical ResearchFoundation, the Pennington MedicalFoundation, and the Facilities ManagementDepartment, and to conduct campus-widegatherings and Pennington-sponsorededucational programs and events, accordingto Jennifer Winstead, president and chiefexecutive officer of the PenningtonBiomedical Research Foundation, the entityresponsible for managing the facility.

“Funding sources to support programs andfuture expansion continue to be identified,”said Winstead, including a critical need forthe Phase 2 building, an 80,000 square footClinical Research Facility, estimated at a costof $20 million. The current clinical researchfacility is 44,500 square feet. Since theCenter opened, more than 8,000 volunteershave participated in clinical trials housed inthat clinical facility.

Expanded Population Studiescontinued from page 2

Sponsored by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, some ofthe world’s top researchers came to Baton Rouge for a seminar on

how exercise affects the brain


fifteen

Act Now

This study will test the drug Actos as ameans of preventing diabetes.• Age 18 or older• Overweight• Do not have diabetes• No heart disease or hepatitis• No lung or kidney disease• No prescription medications for

diabetes control• Not pregnant• Not on medication for weight loss

Inhaled Insulin

Can inhaled insulin replace injections?This study is designed to find out.

To qualify:• Age 18-80• Normal weight to overweight• Diagnosed with Type II diabetes for at

least 6 months• Taking oral diabetes medication

Get Readi -

A study of the genetic factors in heartdisease among African-Americans

Volunteers must be:• Age 18-65• African American only• Not taking medication• Non-diabetic• Have a biologic sibling willing to

participate

Diabetes -

The clinic is currently seeking volunteersfor numerous clinical studies on thetreatment of diabetes

Volunteers need to be:• Type II Diabetic• Over age 18• Normal to Overweight• Not Pregnant

Help us “Unlock the Secrets” by volunteeringCenter researchers are currently seeking citizen volunteers for the following clinical studies.

Please call 225-763-2596 for specific information or visit the Center website, www.pbrc.edu.

Clerk for the Honorable Frank J. Polozola,U.S. District Judge for the Middle District ofLouisiana.

Madhu Beriwal, president andchief executive officer ofInnovative EmergencyManagement, Incorporated(IEM), has nearly 20 years of

experience in emergency management,homeland security, and the use of informationtechnology to resolve complex protectionissues. Founded by Beriwal in 1985, IEM is arisk management corporation of internationalscope providing technical and analyticalservices to the Department of Defense,Department of Homeland Security, Centers forDisease Control and Prevention, state and localagencies, and private industry. She is afounding member of the Association ofLouisiana Technology Companies and an activemember of the Baton Rouge and LouisianaTechnology Councils. She is on the board ofdirectors for the Louisiana Technology Park,and served as co-chair of the EnvironmentalTechnology and Security Cluster for theCapital Region Competitive Strategy Initiative.In 2003, Ms. Beriwal received the Governor'sTechnology Award for "Technology Leader ofthe Year," and in 2004 she was named"Businessperson of the Year" by the GreaterBaton Rouge Business Report.

Maxine Cormier is a BatonRouge, Louisiana-basedgovernmental and issuesmanagement consultant whose

New Foundation Board Memberscontinued from page 3

decades of work have gained her respect andinfluence with elected officials at the local, stateand national levels.

Cormier's past and present clients includeAT&T, Entergy, Harrah’s Casino, the LouisianaOil Marketers Association, the LouisianaPrimary Care Association, Louisiana’s ClinicalSocial Workers, the Louisiana Physical TherapyAssociation, the Louisiana Trial LawyersAssociation, the Louisiana HospitalAssociation, the Louisiana IndependentPharmacies Association, the Friends of CityPark of New Orleans, Prudential Life Insuranceand the Diebold Corporation. Cormier hasbeen an independent lobbyist since 1988. Anative of St. Martinville, Louisiana, shegraduated from the University of Louisiana andcontinued graduate studies at Webster College,St. Louis, Missouri. Ms. Cormier serves onnumerous local, state and national communityboards.

J. Gerard "Jerry" Jolly joinedthe KPMG firm in 1974 andbecame a partner in 1981. Jollyserved as managing partner ofKPMG's Baton Rouge office and

later held several regional positions, including

Partner-in-Charge for the Houston region ofKPMG and Consumer and Industrial BusinessMarket Leader.

Jolly was recently inducted into the Hall ofDistinction of the E.J. Ourso College ofBusiness Administration at LSU. Jolly currentlyserves as a board member of the CHSFoundation and as treasurer of Mary BirdPerkins Cancer Center. He is a member of theBaton Rouge Rotary Club and the St. Joseph'sAcademy Investment Committee. He is agraduate of Catholic High School and LSU.

Kevin Lyle is owner andpresident of RELco, L.L.C. andmanaging partner of LCProperties of Lafayette. He is agraduate of Louisiana State

University. He was a director for LCR-MCorporation from 1981 until 2002. Lyle isdedicated to community activism, serving asofficer and board chair for the Baton RougeArea Foundation, Volunteer Baton Rouge! andthe Academic Distinction Fund. He currentlyserves as board vice chair for Swine Palace. Heis active at St. Luke's Episcopal Church andserves on the board of trustees of EpiscopalHigh School.

YOU’RE INVITED!The Digestive Health

Foundation of Louisianacordially invites you to the

4th Annual Wine Tasting EventFriday, May 6; 6:00 to 9:00 p.m

"White Linen Nights"

C.B. Pennington, Jr. Conference Center

Tickets - $50 per person

Sponsorship OpportunitiesAvailable

For more information call: (225) 266-0728

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Pennington Biomedical Research

Center and Foundation.

YOU’RE INVITED!


August 28Rocketkidz Triathlon Fees are between $15-$20.Swim/bike/run triathalon events of various distancesContact: Susan Moss Hayden 225-603-1667 orwww.rocketkidz.com

OCTOBEROctober 8Irene W. Pennington Wellness Day for WomenFree Admission, 9 am - 2 pmFor sponsorship and booth information call 225-763-2512http://www.pbrc.edu/wnrp.htm

APRIL

April 21Visiting Scientist DinnerJames Joseph, Ph.D., Tufts University

MAYMay 6Digestive Health Foundation Wine TastingEvent (see details, page 15)

AUGUSTAugust 3-7Pennington Balloon Championships

August 6Soaring to New HeightsFor ticket or sponsorship information, callRhonda Ruffino 225-763-2512

Mark Your Calendar

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit NO. 664Baton Rouge, LA

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation6400 Perkins RoadBaton Rouge, LA 70808-7214www.pbrf.orgwww.pbrc.edu225-763-2511

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairman, John B. Noland

Immediate Past Chair, Kevin P. Reilly, Sr.

Vice Chair, Paula P. de la Bretonne

Treasurer, C. Brent McCoy

Secretary, Pat Cheramie

President/CEO, Jennifer G. Winstead

Ex-Officio, Claude Bouchard, Ph.D.Executive Director, PBRC

DirectorsJames J. Bailey, IIITim A. Barfield, Jr.Annette D. BartonMadhu BeriwalJ.S. "Si" Brown, IIIJ. Terrell BrownJoseph H. Campbell, Jr.Maxine CormierJ. Gerard "Jerry" JollyRoy Kadair, M.D.Charles A. LandryKevin R. LyleJames M. NolanNanette NolandBert S. TurnerWilliam H. Wright, Jr.

PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Printing compliments ofBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

FACTS ABOUT THE PENNINGTON CENTERThe Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation supports the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and itsmission.

Mission: To promote healthier lives through research and education in nutrition and preventive medicine.

Size: Main research facility: 575,000 square feet; Conference Center: 96,000 square feet; grounds: 234 acres.

Staff: 70 faculty members, 50 post doctorates, and more than 500 technicians and support personnel.

6 Research Divisions: Functional Foods, Experimental Obesity, Clinical Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, Nutrition andChronic Diseases, Health and Performance Enhancement and Education, and Nutrition and the Brain. The center hasalso established an Education Division.

Laboratories: 13 laboratories and 16 core service laboratories including genomics, proteomics, clinical chemistry, massspectrometry, cell culture, comparative biology, transgenic, body composition, and food analysis laboratories.

Clinic: Outpatient examination and interview rooms, inpatient rooms for 14 research volunteers, metabolic kitchen,metabolic procedure room, two whole-room indirect calorimeters, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and ultrasoundimaging.

Upcoming Events


PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER AND … · has the success of losing weight under his belt....

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