|
Obesity center's name change reflects new relationships
Texas Texas A&M Agriculture's Center for Obesity Research and Program Evaluation has been elevated to an institute, reflecting the entity's collaborative efforts to fight obesity, particularly in children. The renamed Institute for Obesity Research and Program Evaluation combines the resources found within Texas A&M University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Texas Cooperative Extension, both members of the Texas A&M System. "The new name better reflects the multi-institutional role and regional, statewide and national expansion of the center's obesity programs," said Dr. H. Russell Cross, deputy vice chancellor and associate dean of agriculture and life sciences. "Because the center has had such success since its founding in 2006 in forming relationships with other agencies and research institutions, we believe the new name will continue to stimulate research and encourage researchers who are fighting against obesity, which has been called the nation's No. 1 health problem." The institute, which is led by Dr. Peter Murano, emphasizes both fundamental scientific research and program and policy evaluative research. That means understanding obesity causes and impacts in cell and animal models; how dietary and other lifestyle factors impact people's hunger, appetite and risk of obesity and related conditions; and the impact of socioeconomic background, culture education and access to healthful diet and physical activity. Murano, who also serves as a professor of nutrition and food science at Texas A&M, said the institute's success this year has been gratifying, most notably: --A multi-year project funded was by the Texas Department of State Health Services, which included collaboration with several local Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program agencies and researchers with Texas A&M's health and kinesiology department in the College of Education. This project was led by Dr. Lisako McKyer. --Multi-institutional relationships were established with Scott & White Hospital in Temple and the Texas A&M Health Science Center to develop research partnerships to address childhood obesity. --A cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service to conduct research on whole grain products in the National School Lunch Program, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Minnesota, is also in development. B 9 9/3/07 5 Star OK Date: 8/30/07
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
