Dr. Mary Murimi and NS students at the Fall 2016 Study Abroad Fair

Table of Contents

Contact Us

Tell us your comments and suggestions. Email the editor at shao-hua.chin@ttu.edu whenever you receive awards or funding; appear in media; have lab updates, publications, presentations or other achievements you want to share. We look forward to hearing from you!

From Here, It's Possible

Student Spotlight 

Dr. Chanaka Kahathuduwa is a Ph.D. candidate in the Behavioral Medicine and Translational Research (BMTR) lab in the TTU NS Department, and also a physician and a lecturer in the Department of Physiology, Faculty (School) of Medicine, University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. He received his MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) and M.Phil (Master of Philosophy) in Cognitive Neurophysiology from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Chanaka came to TTU to work with Dr. Martin Binks to gain experience and training in obesity and focus in cognitive neuroscience (particularly functional magnetic resonance imaging; fMRI) and statistics. His research is focused in understanding the neurophysiology of human ingestive behavior.

Chanaka has had a truly exceptional year. He conducted two major fMRI studies under the supervision of Dr. Martin Binks; performed a meta-analysis with Dr. John Dawson; has published three review papers and two original research manuscripts with several others submitted in 2016. His hard work and leadership in the lab has led to multiple abstracts being presented at The Obesity Society Annual Scientific Sessions held during ObesityWeek 2016 in New Orleans. Notably Chanaka was one of the four finalists for the 2016 Early Career Grant Challenge and one of the five finalists in the Ethan Sims Early Career Investigator competition and had a poster chosen as 'top ten' for the Biobehavioral Research Section of The Obesity Society. Chanaka shows no signs of slowing down in 2017 either. He has played a leadership role in the preparation of multiple abstracts submitted to Experimental Biology 2017, is finishing his dissertation, actively and substantially involved in several grant submissions this winter and is preparing to submit to various other conferences. He will also travel to Canada in the spring to present an oral paper based on his fMRI work at TTU. Chanaka hopes to graduate in Summer 2017. His ultimate goals is to become a faculty member and a researcher in cognitive neurophysiology and nutritional sciences. 

Department Announcements

Study Abroad Fair

• The Office of International Affairs organized a study abroad fair on September 14th, 2016. At the fair, Dr. Mary Murimi, Dr. Wilna Oldewage-Theron and their students presented a program named 'World food Problems in Kenya.' The program will be offered as an NS 4000/5000 Independent Study in Nutrition course during Summer 2017. Another proposed program from the department of Nutritional Sciences is 'Nutritional Tour of Italy.' It is offered as NS 2380 Cultural Aspects of Food and NS 4350 Emerging Issues in Nutrition. For more information, please visit the Study Abroad Office and see the list of Faculty-led programs. There you will find each of these proposed programs from the Department of Nutritional Sciences: World food Problems in Kenya and Nutritional Tour of Italy

2015-2016 Dietetic Interns Finished their Internship

• Dietetic Interns finished their 1200 hour dietetic internship in mid-November and they are eligible to take the RD exam. During their internship, they traveled to the T Bar Ranch in Tahoka for a Farm to Fork Tour sponsored by the Texas Beef Council and learned about nutrients in beef and cattle production.

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

• Bong Thi Nguyen
  • Degree: M.S.
  • Defense Date: October 20, 2016
  • Thesis Title: Nutrition Education Intervention to Increase Nutrition Knowledge and Healthy Food Choice among Fourth- and Fifth- Graders in East Lubbock, Texas: A Promised Neighborhood Project
  • Dissertation Committee: Dr. Mary Murimi, Dr. Wilna Oldewage-Theron, and Dr. John Dawson

Ceremony to Congratulate Fall Graduates of the Department

• The forth Graduation Celebration of the Nutritional Sciences Department was held on May 20, 2016. Honorees were:
  • M.S. Candidates: Ashley Wilmeth, Ashley Knuf, Beth Castelli, Brianna Bush, Samantha Greenburg, Connally Rushing, Emily Lipinsky, Jordan Scott, Kaelee McNeel, Brian Decanio, Kimberly Lewis, Lea Flamming, Regan Anthony, Vanessa Garcia, Bong Nguyen

Lab Updates

Behavioral Medicine & Translational Research Lab (Dr. Binks)

• The BMTR lab website is now available! Chick here to learn more.
• Casey Fleming joined the BMTR lab last Fall. She is currently in her sophomore year of her Bachelors of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies on a Pre-Occupational Therapy track. She is involved in President's Select, Pi Beta Phi fraternity for women, the Texas Tech Pre-Occupational Therapy Club, volunteering at University Medical Center, and assisting in research in the Behavioral Medicine Translational Research (BMTR) lab.
• Four graduate students and two undergrad students attended Obesity Week 2016 in New Orleans. The BMTR group had 3 oral presentations, 2 invited lectures and 4 posters with one selected as a top ten poster winner in the Biobehavioral Research Section of The Obesity Society.

 

• Our exercise and obesity review paper is one of 2 most downloaded manuscripts for 2016 at Obesity Reviews!
• William Quarles was selected to participate in the Groundwork Program in early January, 2017. The TLPDC (Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center) developed the program to help graduate students to learn effective teaching in the college classroom.

Inflammation & Obesity Research (NIOR) Lab (Drs. Moustaid-Moussa, Ramalingam and Koboziev)

• Dr. Iurii (Yuri) Koboziev joined the Department of Nutritional Sciences as Research Assistant Professor in the NIOR laboratory in September 2016. His research is focused on therapeutic effects of science-based dietary supplements and treating obesity using fecal microbial transfer.
• Several graduate students from NIOR Lab participated in the 3 minute thesis competition organized by the TTU Graduate School on October 19th, which included Arwa Aljawadi, Mandana Pahlavani, Nadeeja Wijayatunga, Kembra Albracht-Schulte, Rasha Fahmida, Shasika Harshani Jayarathne and Amal Bouyanfif. Ph.D. candidates, Arwa, Mandana and Nadeeja were selected among the 12 finalists for the final round and Mandana Pahlavani won second place.
• Dr. Moustaid-Moussa participated in two NIH study sections in October and November 2016. The first is the fall meeting in Rockville, MD for the Clinical and Integrative Diabetes and Obesity study section, where she serves as a standing member (2016-22). The second is an Internet Assisted Review Meeting (IAM) for the Training and Research grants, held by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH / NIH).
• Dr. Moustaid-Moussa participated in an NIH workshop at the Bethesda campus entitled "The Adipose Tissue Niche: Role in Health and Diseases" Their abstract was selected for a poster blitz presentation and a poster session which was co-authored by Dr. Wei Li and Dr. Latha Ramalingam.
• New lab members
  • Alfred Kankam joined the NIOR lab in fall 2016 and he is a sophomore Honors undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Nutrition-PPHC with minors in Biology and Chemistry. His research focuses on the interaction between obesity, polyphenols and intestinal microbiome. Upon graduation, he plans to attend the School of Medicine at the TTU HSC with the ultimate goal to become an Orthopedic Surgeon.
  • Hussain Abidi is an undergraduate Honors student and he majors in Biology and minors in Chemistry, with a pre-medical track as an Undergraduate Medical School Initiative student. He joined the NIOR laboratory in the Fall 2016 is assisting with the NIH funded project. Hussain plans to graduate in Spring 2018 and has secured early acceptance into TTUHSC Medical School.
• Fall Graduates from the NIOR Lab
  • Shasika Harshani Jayarathne received her Master's degree in Biotechnology in December 2016. She started her PhD program in Nutritional Sciences in Fall 2016 and works on tart cherry anthocyanins and omega 3 fatty acids and their effects on adipose tissue inflammation, obesity and insulin resistance.
  • London Allen, Undergraduate Honors student, Terry Scholar and Undergraduate Research Scholar graduated in December 2016 Cum Laude with Honors with a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and a minor in Nutrition and Biology. She started her PhD program in Nutritional Sciences in January 2017 and will continue working on molecular mechanisms mediating anti-inflammatory effects of tocotrienol and other bioactive compounds in obesity and metabolic diseases.

Nutrition & Nanomedicine Lab (Drs. Wang, Hao, and Scott)

• Yujiao Zu passed her qualifying exam and is Ph.D. candidate now.
• Dr. Lei Hao joined the Nutrition and Nanomedicine Lab as a research assistant professor in August 2016. His research interests include understanding the mechanisms of obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and brown fat development.

 

• Dr. Sheyenne S. Scott Joined the Nutrition and Nanomedicine Laboratory as a postdoctoral research associate in November 2016. Dr. Scott's research focuses on nanomedicine, nutrition, obesity, and atherosclerosis.

Student Achievements

• Mandana Pahlavani, Ph.D. Student
  • Won 2nd place in the Three Minute Thesis competition hosted by the Graduate School. 

• Ashlee Taylor, Ph.D. Student
  • Selected as the Graduate Student of the Month in the College of Human Sciences. 
• Chanaka Kahathuduwa, Ph.D. Student
  • Selected as one of the four finalist for the Ethan Sims Early Career Investigator competition at Obesity Week 2016.
  • Selected as one of the five finalist for the 2016 Early Career Grant Challenge. Proposal title: Effects of extended calorie restriction on neurotransmitter levels in human brain food reward circuitry: an MRS study.
  • Chosen as a top ten poster winner for the Biobehavioral Research Section from The Obesity Society. Poster title: Higher Body Mass Index and Longer Duration of Fasting are Associated with Shorter Response Times to Visual Food Cues in Adults with Obesity.
• Suhadinie Gamage, M.S. Student
  • Received Summer Thesis Dissertation Award from the Graduate School for Summer I 2016.
  • Received the Helen C. Brittin Endowed Scholarship for Food and Nutrition from the Texas Tech University Nutritional Sciences Department for the 2016 Fall Semester.

Faculty Awards

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Lydia Kloiber, M.S., R.D.N., L.D.

• Received the 2016-2017 COHS Excellence in Teaching Award. This award is for excellence in teaching by full time or part time tenure-ineligible faculty members, as attested by students, faculty members, and administrators.

Dr. Shu Wang

• Selected as the recipient for the 2017 Mary Swartz Rose Young Investigator Award from American Society of Nutrition (ASN) and will receive this award at ASN's Awards Ceremony at Experimental Biology 2017.
• Selected to be the Mace Bearer for the TTU Fall 2016 commencement.

Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar

• Received the Rotary International Vocational Excellence Award in Mumbai in January 2017.

Funding

• Title: Anti-obesity Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Brown Adipose Tissue.
  • Funding Source: NIH: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
  • Total Amount: $434,000
  • Principal Investigator: Naima Moustaid-Moussa
• Title: Determining Dietary Pattern Accompanying Egg Intake.
  • Funding Source: The American Egg Board / Egg Nutrition Center
  • Total Amount: $47,468
  • Principal Investigator: Nikhil Dhurandhar
• Title: Does higher protein quality breakfast reduce energy intake when following a weight loss diet plan?
  • Funding Source: The American Egg Board / Egg Nutrition Center
  • Total Amount: $132,645
  • Principal Investigator: Nikhil Dhurandhar

Patents, Publications and Boards

Patents Obtained

Nikhil Dhurandhar

• US # 9,469,659 B2
• Title: Composition and methods for improving glucose uptake.

Students' Oral Presentations

• Kahathuduwa CN, Binks M, Martin CK, Dawson JA. Extended Calorie Restriction Suppresses Overall and Specific Food Cravings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.
• Kahathuduwa CN, Davis T, O' Boyle M, Boyd LA, Chin S, Paniukov D, Binks M. Total Meal Replacement- and Typical Food-based Calorie Restriction Differentially Affect Visual Food-cue Reactivity of the Human Brain as Measured by fMRI. Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.

Students' Posters

• Kahathuduwa CN, Chin S, Johns B, Boyd LA, Stearns M, Binks M. Hours since Last Meal Predict Subscales of Food Craving Inventory and Three Factor Eating Questionnaire in Healthy Obese Adults. Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.
• Stearns M, Kahathuduwa CN, Chin S, Boyd LA, Johns B, Binks M. Exposure to Rewarding Visual Food Cues: Relationship to Self-reported Hunger in Adults with Obesity. Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.
• Chin S, Kahathuduwa CN, Boyd LA, Johns B, Stearns M, Davis T, Binks M. How Should Hunger be Modelled When Analyzing Outcomes of Food-cue Reactivity Paradigms. Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.
• Zahid MK, Wang S, Rahman SM. CAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBP beta) knock down reduces ER stress and apoptosis but increases autophagy activity in macrophage foam cells. Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.
• Golden A, Dhurandhar NV, Jinnett K, Kaplan LM, Kolotkin RL, Kyle T, Nadglowski J, O'Neil PM, Parry T, Tomaszewski KJ, Guerrero G, Lilleøre SK, Look M. Insights and Perceptions of Obesity Management in People with Obesity: Results of the National ACTION Survey. Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.
• Kaplan LM, Golden A, Jinnett K, Kolotkin RL, Kyle T, Look M, Nadglowski J, O'Neil PM, Parry T, Tomaszewski KJ, Guerrero G, Lilleøre SK, Dhurandhar NV. Divergence in Perceptions and Attitudes among People with Obesity, Healthcare Professionals, and Employers create Barriers to Effective Obesity Management: Results of the National ACTION Survey. Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.
• Peddibhotla S, Shastri A, Scoggin S, Ramalingam L, Hegde V, Dhurandhar NV. Insulin sparing action of an adenoviral protein E4orf1. Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.
• Bailey D, Childress A, Hegde V, Dawson J, Dhurandhar NV. Does higher protein quality breakfast reduce energy intake when following a weight loss diet plan? Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.
• Munir MT, Ponce C, Tarafdar K, Gollahon L, Rahman SM. Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.

Professors' Posters

• Oldewage-Theron W, Egal AA, Crobler CG. Prevalence of dietary, biochemical and anthropometric cardiovascular risk factors in children from rural Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Nutrition & Growth; 2016 Mar; Vienna, Austria.
• Egal AA, Oldewage-Theron W. Maternal waist circumference as a prediction of children's stunted status. Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Nutrition & Growth; 2016 Mar; Vienna, Austria.
• Abu B, Saha S, Oldewage-Theron W, Egal AA. Micronutrient deficiencies among apparently healthy school-aged children in rural Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, South Africa: a community-based cross-sectional study. Proceedings of the Micronutrient Forum Global Conference; 2016 Oct; Cancun, Mexico.
• Oldewage-Theron W, Egal AA. Is overweight and obesity associated with multiple micronutrient deficiencies in low-income women? A case study from Qwa-Qwa, South Africa. Proceedings of the Micronutrient Forum Global Conference; 2016 Oct; Cancun, Mexico.
• Oldewage-Theron W, Egal AA, Lyford C. Using the Re-AIM framework to evaluate a nutrition education programme for children aged 9-13 years old: a comparison between rural and urban South Africa. Proceedings of the 7th Africa Nutritional Epidemiology Conference; 2016 Oct; Marrakesh, Morocco.
• Dawson JA. The 2014 National Health Interview Survey Does Not Provide Evidence that There is an Association Between Food Insecurity and Body Mass Index in Adults But Not in Their Children; Rather, the Association is Present for Both Groups. Proceedings of the 34th Ann. Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society; 2016 Nov; New Orleans, LA.

Journal Articles

• Na HN, Hegde V, Dubuisson O, Dhurandhar NV. E4orf1 Enhances Glucose Uptake Independent of Proximal Insulin Signaling. PLoS One. 2016 Aug 18;11(8):e0161275. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161275. eCollection 2016.
• Chappell CL, Dickerson M, Day RS, Dubuisson O, Dhurandhar NV. Adenovirus 36 antibody detection: Improving the standard serum neutralization assay. J Virol Methods. 2017 Jan;239:69-74. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2016.10.014. Epub 2016 Nov 5.
• McMurphy TB, Huang W, Xiao R, Liu X, Dhurandhar NV, Cao L. Hepatic Expression of Adenovirus 36 E4ORF1 Improves Glycemic Control and Promotes Glucose Metabolism via AKT Activation. Diabetes. 2016 Nov 30. pii: db160876. [Epub ahead of print]
• Chin S, Kahathuduwa CN, Binks M. Is sedentary behavior really unhealthy and do interventions work: A review. Int J Clin Pract. (In press)
• Binks M, Chin S. What are the challenges in developing effective health policies for obesity? Int J Obes (Lond). (In press)
• Ghvanidze S, Velikova N, Dodd TH, Oldewage-Theron W. Consumers' environmental and ethical consciousness and the use of the related food products information: The role of perceived consumer effectiveness. Appetite, 2016; 107:311-322. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2016.08.097. Epub 2016 Aug 20.
• Oldewage-Theron W, Kruger R. The association between diet quality and subclinical inflammation among children aged 6-18 years in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Public Health Nutr, 2016; 2:1-10. [Epub ahead of print]
• Oldewage-Theron W, ABU B, S SAHA, A EGAL. Magnitude, socio-economic and dietary intake predictors of micronutrient deficiencies among school-aged children in rural South Africa, a community-based cross-sectional study. International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences, 2016; 5(3).
• Abu B, Oldewage-Theron W. Time and ''Questioning Type'' Affected Recall of Iron Deficiency Prevention Education Messages among Rural Ghanaian Mothers. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2016; 48(7S): S17.
• Abu B, Louw VJ, Raubenheimer JE, Oldewage-Theron W, Van Den Berg VL. Self-Reported Barriers to Adapting Contextualized Nutrition Education Messages Targeted At Preventing Iron Deficiency (ID) among Mothers and Their Young Children in Ghana. The FASEB Journal, 2016; 30(1): S674.24.
• Pahlavani M, Razafimanjato F, Ramalingam L, Kalupahana N, Moussa H, Scoggin S, Moustaid-Moussa N. Eicosapentaenoic acid Increases Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenic Markers in High Fat Fed Mice. J Nutr Biochem 2016;39:101-109. [Epub ahead of print]
• Ramalingam L, Menikdewella K, Lemieux M, Dufour J, Kalupahana N, Moustaid-Moussa N. The renin angiotensin system, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function in obesity and insulin resistance. Biochim Biophys Acta 2016. pii: S0925-4439(16)30187-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2016.07.019. [Epub ahead of print]
• Parkman JK, Mao X, Dillon K, Gudivada A, Moustaid-Moussa N, Saxton AM, Kim JH. Genotype-dependent Metabolic Responses to Semi-Purified High-Sucrose High-Fat Diets in the TALLYHO/Jng vs. C57BL/6 Mouse during the Development of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes, 2016;124(10):622-629.
• Rahman SM, Baquero KC, Choudhury M, Janssen RC, de la Houssaye BA, Sun M, Miyazaki-Anzai S, Wang S, Moustaid-Moussa N, Miyazaki M, Friedman JE. C/EBPβ in bone marrow is essential for diet induced inflammation, cholesterol balance, and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis. 2016 Jul;250:172-9. doi: 10.1016/ 2016.03.040.
• Zhang J, Zu YJ, Dhanasekara CS, Li J, Wu DY, Fan ZY, Wang S. Detection and Treatment of Atherosclerosis Using Nanoparticles. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol. 2017, 9:e1412. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1412. PMID: 27241794.
• Shen CL, Mo H, Yang S, Wang S, Felton CK, Tomison MD, Soelaiman IN. Safety and efficacy of tocotrienol supplementation for bone health in postmenopausal women: protocol for a dose-response double-blinded placebo-controlled randomised trial. BMJ Open. 2016 Dec 23;6(12):e012572. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012572.
• Chen L, Mo H, Zhao L, Gao W, Wang S, Cromie MM, Lu C, Wang JS, Shen CL. Therapeutic Properties of Green Tea Against Environmental Insults. J Nutr Biochem. 2016;40:1-13.

Published Chapters in Books and Books

• Duvenage SS, Oldewage-Theron WH, Egal AA. Cooking joy with soy. Vanderbijlpark: Vaal University of Technology, 2016.
• Oldewage-Theron WH & Egal AA. Food quality and food safety. In Temple, N. & Steyn, N.P. Eds. Community nutrition for developing countries. Edmonton, AB: AU Press, Athabasca University, 2016. P 430-448. Available online.

Invited Lectures by Professors

Dr. Wilna Oldewage-Theron

• 36th Annunal US Foods Food and Nutrition Seminar. 'Global food security and strategies to overcome food insecurity'. Lubbock, TX. May 2016.
• 7th Africa Nutritional Epidemiology Conference. 'Sustainability of community food and nutrition intervention programs: case studies from South Africa'. Marrakesh, Morocco. October 2016.

Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar

• Novartis. 'Member, Patient Advisory Board.' Zurich, Switzerland. October 2016.
• Department of Medicine and Department of Endocrinology at University of Texas Medical Branch. 'Medical Grand Rounds.' Galveston, TX. November 2016.

Dr. Martin Binks

• Obesity Week 2016. 'It takes a village: A multidimensional approach to improving access to care for obesity.' New Orleans, LA. November 2016.
• Obesity Week 2016. 'The Bariatric Operation: Identifying the Troubled Candidate: Psych Evaluation and Ongoing Therapy.' New Orleans, LA. November 2016.

Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa

• Annual meeting of Korean Food and Nutrition Society. 'Mechanisms of Anti-obesity and Anti-inflammatory Effectsof Omega 3 Fatty Acids in Adipose Tissue.' Jeju, Korea. November 2016.

Symposia

Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar

• Barriers to Effective Obesity Care: Results from the National ACTION Study. Symposium conducted at the 34th Obesity Week by Novo Nordisk; November 2016, New Orleans, LA.
• Measurement of Energy Intake: Is Something Better Than Nothing. Symposium conducted at the 34th Obesity Week by The Obesity Society; November 2016, New Orleans, LA.

Miscellaneous Board and Other Appointments

• Dr. Mary Murimi was appointed a chancellor for Daystar University in Kenya in June 2016.
• Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar was appointed as one of the grant reviewer in the National Institutes of Nutrition Study section in November 2016: ZRG1 EMNR-W (SBIR / STTR).
• Dr. Vijay Hegde
  • Rotated to Chair-Elect for TOS Obesity & Cancer Section in 2016-2017.
  • Selected as the Vice Chair for IACUC committee at Texas Tech University in 2016-2017.
• Dr. Shu Wang
  • Appointed as the Secretary of North America Chinese Society for Nutrition (NACSN).
  • Selected as a Chair of the NACSN Award Committee.
• Dr. Martin Binks
  • Invited to Fellow status at the European Society of Preventive Medicine.
  • Appointed as Senior Editor for Progress in Preventative Medicine. Official journal of ESPM 

In the Media

Professors in Local Media

Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa and Dr. Latha Ramalingam

• Texas Tech Today on August 31, 2016 entitled 'Shades of Fat: Why One Leads to Obesity and Another to Hibernation.'

Dr. Latha Ramalingam

• Texas Tech Today on October 19, 2016 entitled 'Expert: Approval of Artificial Pancreas Positive for Type 1 Diabetes Management.'

Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar

• Texas Tech Today on December 7, 2016 entitled 'Expert: Childhood Obesity Must Be Treated as Disease, Not Moral Failing.'

Professors in National Media

Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar

• The ACTION study webpage. 
• Documentary: The Student Body (2016).
• NDTV MOVIES on November 29, 2016 entitled 'Aamir Khan's Dangal Transformation: How He Got from Fat to Fit.'
• The Indian Express on November 29, 2016 entitled 'Video: Aamir khan's Strict diet and Workout Plan for His Fat to Journey for Dangal.'
• Viralbollywood on December 22, 2016 entitled 'Man Behind Fit To Fat | Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar | Aamir Khan's Diet Nutritionist Full Interview.'
• WIRED on December 27, 2016 entitled 'The Mysterious Virus That Could Cause Obesity.'
• Hindustantimes on December 28, 2016 entitled 'Aamir Khan's Dangal nutritionist to reveal secrets in his new book' 

Dr. Martin Binks

• US News & World Report: Best Hospitals 2016 entitled 'An Rx for Weight Loss.'
• USA TODAY on April 3, 2016 entitled 'Want a healthy body? It's all about that fat and muscle, not your BMI.'
• CONSUMERAFFAIRS on May 26, 2016 entitled 'Portion control: is it the key to weight loss?' 
• MNT on May 29, 2016 entitled 'Portion-controlled Ready Meals may Encourage Greater Weight Loss.'
• ConscienHealth on August 30, 2016 entitled 'Lighting Up the Brain to Make It Behave.'
• The NEWS Minute on November 4, 2016 entitled 'Singer SPB Swears by Bariatric Surgery, but is the Weight-loss Procedure Suited for All?' 
• EmaxHealth on December 5, 2016 entitled 'Monitoring Your Weight Loss: Is Your Weight Really Fat or Is It Muscle?' 
• Documentary: The Student Body (2016). 
• Runner's World on January 3, 2017 entitled 'Want to Lose Weight in the New Year? Know Your Numbers First.'

GNO Events

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Ice Cream Social

• On August 26, new GNO officers welcomed new graduate students in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and discussed upcoming GNO Events.

Raider Refresh Day

• Raider Refresh Day was a back-to-school function for all TTU students on September 14, 2016. This event features informational and interactive booths including an oxygen bar, smoothie bike, fruit infused water, chair massages, and much more. GNO was the organizer of this event and teamed up with RISE, Student Counseling Center, Hospitality Services, Rec Sports, and TAB. Over 300 students attended this event. 

GNO Carlsbad Caverns Social Trip

• GNO members had a social trip to the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico on October 22. Members went on a guided tour of the cave which extends more than 750 feet below the ground.

Lubbock Heart Walk

• The American Heart Association hosts the Lubbock Heart Walk every year to raise awareness and funds for heart disease and stroke. It also promotes a healthy active lifestyle and honors victims of cardiovascular diseases. Several members attended the Lubbock Heart Walk on October 29, 2016.

Taste of Science Exhibit

• The Science Spectrum hosted the Taste of Science Exhibit On November 12, 2016 for members of the Lubbock community. GNO members gave an oral presentation and had an informational booth, both of which focused on understanding the importance of healthy weight and lifestyles.

Other Announcements and Notices

Obesity Research Cluster

ORC Seminar Series

• The ORC sponsored the obesity seminar series in Fall 2016, and their invited speakers included:
  • Dr. Bruce Watkins, Professor, Nutrition Department, University of CA at Davis and Professor Emeritus, Purdue University, Editor in Chief for Nutrition Research.
  • Dr. Jung Han Kim, Professor in the department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Toxicology at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University.
  • Dr. Shane Broughton, Professor, Chair Nutrition and Food Sciences, Texas Woman's University.
• Obesity Research Cluster News:
  • Dr. Moustaid-Moussa and Dr. Oak Hee Park participated in the 10th Southern Obesity Summit (SOS) in Houston November 13-15. They participated in the conference exhibition and shared information about nutrition and obesity research within the ORC, COHS and TTU. SOS was organized and hosted this year by Texas Health Institute and the Live Smart Texas (LST) steering committee, and Dr. Moustaid-Moussa serves as Region 1 representative representing ORC on the committee. Other COHS attendees included Dr. Sara Dodd and the Covenant BodyMind Initiative team members Linn Walker and Greg Johnston.

Upcoming Obesity Science Conference in Spring

• The ORC is planning an Obesity Science Conference "Translating and Bridging Research and Practice Challenges and Solutions for Vulnerable Populations" to be held at Texas Tech Museum in Lubbock May 22-24, 2017. For more information, visit ORC website or contact Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa at naima.moustaid-moussa@ttu.edu or Dr. Oak Hee Park at oak-hee.park@ttu.edu.

Join the ORC Listserv

• Sign up for the email list to receive the seminar reminder and ORC events information. 

ShortCourses

Technology Support offers ShortCourses on computer packages every semester. The categories include Adobe Creative Suites, Microsoft Office, statistics software, and web development and publishing. Visit their website for the list of offered courses during the semester and for registration.

• List of offered classes: http://goo.gl/4NqO8F
• Register: https://goo.gl/ezcCcU

Graduate Center Satellite Services for Graduate Students

• Writing Center- By appointment.
  • Schedule your appointment here: https://goo.gl/OzEPnr
• Library Research Assistance Mon & Tue 2 pm - 4 pm.
• Statistical Consulting Service Tue & Thu 5 pm - 7 pm.
  • Schedule your appointment here: http://goo.gl/uUAky7

Editors of Nutrition Matters at Texas Tech

• Editor - Shao-Hua Chin, B.S.
• Editorial Assistant - Macy B Stearns

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