Texas Academy Annual Conference Award Winners

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!

Nutrition and Weight Management Day on May 8, 2017

Our department is very excited to announce Nutrition and Weight Management Day 2017 on May 8 from 3 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center. This event represents an exciting opportunity for us to share what we know about nutrition and healthy weight management with the local community in an entertaining yet educational format. Our evening of presentations, discussion and theatrical splendor will surely be a crowd pleaser! Yes you heard it right, theatrical splendor. Following a delicious meal, we will present the original play "Worth the Weight" by Paul Catalanotto, Emily J. Dhurandhar and Nikhil V. Dhurandhar. "Worth the Weight" is a powerful and moving production that addresses the everyday struggles people face in managing their weight. Perhaps, you will recognize and relate to many of the situations portrayed in the play. The play is produced entirely by students from Texas Tech University's School of Theatre and Dance, under the direction of Ph.D. candidate Winter Davis.

Visit the Nutrition and Weight Management Day web page for more information, to view the preliminary program, and to register.

Act now! Seating is limited. Registration closes May 1, 2017.

Department Announcements

Annual Report of the Nutritional Sciences Department (January 2016 – December 2016)

• Students- 709 undergrads and 78 graduate students
• 22 Faculty Members and 2 open positions
• 5 Extramural Grants received totaling $723,027
• 18 Active Extramural Grants- $2,720,927.25
• 5 Intramural Grants received totaling $49,500
• Student Awards- 32 internal and 11 external awards
• Faculty Awards- 7 internal and 8 external awards
• Publications- 47 journal articles/book/book chapter, 55 posters and presentations, 24 invited lectures and symposia, and 60 media appearances

Experimental Biology 2017 is Coming!

• The Experimental Biology meeting will be held in Chicago, IL on April 22 to 26, 2017. Several faculty, postdocs, and students will attend the conference to give oral and poster presentations.

NS Department was Well Represented at the 2017 Texas Academy Annual Conference

• The 2017 Texas Academy Annual Conference was held in Georgetown, TX from March 30 to April 1. Many faculty members and students from the NS Department attended the conference. A TTU-NS reception was organized by Dr. Reed and other volunteers. The reception highlighted our department and it was very well attended. Dean Hoover, Dr. Dhurandhar and Dr. Reed gave brief presentations to showcase our department, graduate students and faculty. During the foundation awards session, TTU NS faculty, students and alumni received several awards from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND). See all of the details below in our awards section. Shelley Fillipp was responsible for organizing the conference's exciting "After Dark" social event and will be taking on leadership of the foundation in the upcoming year!

2017 TTU Graduate Student Poster Competition

• Fifteen graduate students from the Department of Nutritional Sciences presented their research at the 2017 TTU Graduate Student Poster Competition on March 24, 2017. The research projects included cell and animal studies, clinical trials, and international observational studies. Four of our students won first and second place from the category of Human Sciences 4 and 5. Check the section of student achievements in the newsletter to find out who the winners were!

NS Social Media Committee

• To promote the Nutritional Sciences Department, we are using Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram as our platforms to increase our media presence. Email Dr. Binks at m.binks@ttu.edu if you are willing to join the NS Social Media Committee and learn skills that can help you communicate both your science and helpful information directly to the public!

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

• Md. Ruhul Amin
  • Degree: PhD
  • Defense Date: February 14, 2017
  • Dissertation Title: Effects of Maternal and Child Diet on Childhood Undernutrition in Rural Bangladesh
  • Dissertation Committee: Dr. Mary Murimi (Committee Chair), Dr. Wilna Oldewage-Theron, Dr. John Dawson, Dr. Carlos Carpio, Dr. Mark Lacy.
• Seth Selorm Klobodu
  • Degree: PhD
  • Defense Date: February 21, 2017
  • Dissertation Title: Maternal Health, Child Health and Nutrition, and Economic Development: Evidence from VAR Models in Six Sub-Saharan Africa Countries
  • Dissertation Committee: Dr. Debra B. Reed (Committee Co-Chairs), Dr. John Dawson (Committee Co-Chairs), Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa, Dr. Natalia Velikova, Dr. Carlos E. Carpio.
• Nadeeja Wijayatunga
  • Degree: PhD
  • Defense Date: March 2, 2017
  • Dissertation Title: Adipose Depot-Specific Differences in Gene and MicroRNA Expression in High Fat Fed Mice and Changes in Inflammation and Metabolism Following Bariatric Surgery in Humans
  • Dissertation Committee: Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa (Committee Chair), Dr. Shu Wang, Dr. John Dawson, Dr. Shannon Galyean, Dr. Latha Ramalingam, Dr. Rao Kottapalli.
• Dylan Bailey
  • Degree: MS
  • Defense Date: March 20, 2017
  • Thesis Title: Does Higher Protein Quality Breakfast Reduce Energy Intake When Following a Weight Loss Diet Plan?
  • Dissertation Committee: Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar (Committee Chair), Dr. Vijay Hegde, Dr. John Dawson, Dr. Martin Binks, Dr. Jamie Cooper.
• Allison Childress
  • Degree: PhD
  • Defense Date: March 22, 2017
  • Thesis Title: Gastric Myoelectrical Activity and Satiety in Food Addiction
  • Dissertation Committee: Dr. Debra B. Reed (Committee Co-Chairs), Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar (Committee Co-Chairs), Dr. John Dawson, Dr. Cythia Dsauza, Dr. Spencer Bradshaw.
• Mandana Pahlavani
  • Degree: PhD
  • Defense Date: March 29, 2017
  • Dissertation Title: Cellular and Molecular Basis for Omega 3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Regulation of Brown Adipose Tissue Metabolism and Thermogenesis
  • Dissertation Committee: Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa (Committee Chair), Dr. Shaikh Rahman, Dr. Shu Wang, Dr. Leslie Thompson, Dr. Michael Ballue.

Lab Updates

Behavioral Medicine & Translational Research Lab (Dr. Binks)

• New Lab Member: Macy Moseley joined the BMTR lab in March. Macy is currently in her junior year of her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences within the Health and Wellness track. Macy intends to pursue a career in private, clinical consulting with particular regard for associations between the physiological experience of trauma and its possible correlation to the development of physical effects, such as obesity and diabetes.

Student Achievements

• Chanaka Kahathuduwa, Ph.D. student
  • Selected as a finalist in the American Society for Nutrition's Emerging Leader Poster Competition to be held during Experimental Biology 2017.
  • Received a letter from the TTU Student Senate stating the sentiments of the Student Senate congratulating Chanaka Kahathuduwa on the accomplishments his efforts in the lab have led to.
• Shao-Hua Chin, Ph.D. student
  • Received TTU Graduate Student Research Support Award from the Graduate School.
  • Received TTU Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowships from the Graduate School.
• Ashlee Taylor, Ph.D. student
  • Received 2017 Helen DeVitt Jones Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award from the TTU Graduate School. TTU Graduate Student Research Support Award from the Graduate School.

• Kembra Albracht-Schulte, Ph.D. student
  • Received a two-year pre-doctoral fellowship award from the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The project title is "MicroRNAs as mediators of Omega 3 Fatty Acids Effects on Inflammation and Lipid Metabolism".
• Md. Ruhul Amin, Ph.D. student
  • Received TTU Graduate Student Research Support Award from the Graduate School.
• Samantha Gonzalez, undergraduate student
  • Selected for the 2017 American Society for Nutrition Young Minority Investigator Oral Competition.
  • Received FASEB Mentored Travel Award to attend Experimental Biology 2017.
• Macy Stearns, undergraduate student
  • Placed second in the category of social sciences at the 2017 TTU Undergraduate Research Conference. Poster title: Exposure to Rewarding Visual Food Cues May Increase Self-reported Hunger in Adults with Obesity.

• London Allen, Ph.D. student
  • Placed first in the Human Science 4 category at the 2017 TTU Graduate Poster Competition.
• Seth Klobodu, Ph.D. student
  • Placed second in the Human Science 4 category at the 2017 TTU Graduate Poster Competition.
• Maliha Tabassum Munir, Ph.D. student
  • Placed first in the Human Science 5 category at the 2017 TTU Graduate Poster Competition. Poster title: VD3 (calcitriol) reduces glucose utilization and mechanical properties in breast cancer cells.
• Shasika Harshani Jayarathne Udahawatte Gedara, Ph.D. student
  • Placed second in the Human Science 5 category at the 2017 TTU Graduate Poster Competition.

Alumni Achievements

• Samantha Jo Chavez, MS, RD, LD, CNSC
  • Received the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year (RYDY) from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND).
• Gordon R. Thomas, MS, RD, CDM, CFPP
  • Received the Texas Academy Outstanding Preceptor Award (Newcomer) from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND).
• Jordan H. Scott Robison
  • Received the Outstanding Dietetics Student Awards from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND).

Faculty Awards

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

• Received Texas Distinguished Dietitian Award from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND). This is the highest honor bestowed on a member by the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It is designed to recognize and honor a Texas dietitian who has made outstanding and significant contributions to the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as to the profession of dietetics.

Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar

• Received Texas Academy Bluebonnet Award from the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (TAND). This award is to recognize an individual who is not a dietitian, but who has contributed significantly to the advancement of nutrition and dietetics in Texas.
• Vocational Excellence Award from Rotary International District 3141 for inventive and colossal contribution in the field of nutritional sciences.

Dr. John Dawson

• Selected as one of the Top Reviewers for The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) in 2016. This selection is based on the quality, number, and timeliness of the manuscript reviews completed in 2016. Dr. Dawson's was among the top 1% of all AJCN ad hoc reviewers in 2016.

Submitted Grants

• Topic: Vitamin D regulates metabolism in tumor micro environment.
  • Funding Source: NIH R21
  • Principal Investigator: Shaikh Mizanoor Rahman

Funding

• Title: Role of brain insulin in the regulation of branched-chain amino acid metabolism.
  • Funding Source: NIH NIDDK K01
  • Total Amount: $93,655
  • Principal Investigators: Andrew C. Shin
• Title: A Pilot Study to Identify Blood Biomarkers for Association between Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease.
  • Funding Source: TTU COHS Wylie Briscoe Fund
  • Total Amount: $12,000
  • Principal Investigators: Andrew C. Shin and Vijay Hegde
• Title: Blueberry (Vaccinium Virgatum Aiton) Leaf Extract Reduces Macrophage Activation and Atherogenesis.
  • Funding Source: TTU International Research/Development Seed Grant
  • Total Amount: $2,000
  • Principal Investigators: Shaikh Mizanoor Rahman
  • International collaborators: Dr. Masao Yamasaki (Miyazaki University, Japan) and Bizen Chemical Co. Ltd (Okayama, Japan)
• Title: Nutrition education intervention for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in the Mexican-Texas border.
  • Funding Source: TTU International Research/Development Seed Grant
  • Total Amount: $2,000
  • Principal Investigators: Mary Murimi

Patents, Publications, Invited Lectures and Boards

Patents Obtained

• Nikhil Dhurandhar
  • European. # 2909216 B1
  • Title: Compositions and methods for improving glucose uptake.
• Nikhil Dhurandhar
  • Australian. # 2011274537
  • Title: Adenovirus Ad36 E4orf1 protein for prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Professors' Oral Presentations

• Shin AC, Filatova N, Lindtner C, and Christoph Buettner. Insulin receptor signaling in POMC, but not AgRP, neurons controls adipose tissue insulin action. Keystone Symposia- Diabetes; 2017 Jan; Keystone, Colorado.

Students' Posters

• Kahathuduwa CN, Chin S, Boyd LA, Johns B, Stearns M, Davis T, Binks M. Higher Body Mass Index and Longer Duration of Fasting are Associated with Shorter Response Times to Visual Food Cues in Adults with Obesity. 16th Annual TTU Graduate Research Poster Competition; 2017 Mar; Lubbock, TX.
• 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. 16th Annual TTU Graduate Research Poster Competition; 2017 Mar; Lubbock, TX.
• Quarles QR, Kahathuduwa CN, Davis T, Binks M. Change in Food Craving Inventory Scores are Not Associated with Change in Weight Loss during a Three Week Calorie Restriction Intervention. 16th Annual TTU Graduate Research Poster Competition; 2017 Mar; Lubbock, TX.
• Akter S, Quarles QR, Kahathuduwa CN, Davis T, Binks M. Does the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire Predict Change in Body Weight or Body Fat During a Three-Week Calorie Restriction Intervention? 16th Annual TTU Graduate Research Poster Competition; 2017 Mar; Lubbock, TX.
• Amin MR, Murimi MW, Carabaza AFM. Factors Associated with Stunting among 0-23 Months Old Children in Rural Bangladesh. 16th Annual TTU Graduate Research Poster Competition; 2017 Mar; Lubbock, TX.

Professors' Posters

• Shin AC, Filatova N, Lindtner C, and Christoph Buettner. Insulin receptor signaling in POMC, but not AgRP, neurons controls adipose tissue insulin action. Keystone Symposia- Diabetes; 2017 Jan; Keystone, Colorado.

Journal Articles

• Jiang C, Lin WJ, Sadahiro M, Shin AC, Buettner C, Salton SR. Embryonic ablation of neuronal VGF increases energy expenditure and reduces body weight. Neuropeptides. 2016 Dec 20. pii: S0143-4179(16)30164-0. doi: 10.1016/j.npep.2016.12.005. [Epub ahead of print]
• Taylor AL, Reed DB, Colwell MJ. Qualitative Evaluation of the Jump2Health™ Website for Parents of Preschool Children Shows Behavior Changes. International Quarterly of Community Health Education. 2016; 37 (1): 43-50. https://goo.gl/BUBXFn
• Shin AC. Are BCAAs mere biomarkers of diabetes? Diabetes Res Open J, 2017 Jan; 3(1): e4-e8. https://goo.gl/P39lrT
• Chin S-H, Kahathuduwa C, Binks M. Binks M. Is sedentary behaviour unhealthy and if so does reducing it improve this?. Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71:e12925. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.12925. Epub 2017 Feb 26.
• Binks M, Chin S. What are the challenges in developing effective health policies for obesity? Int J Obes (Lond) 2017. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2017.1. [Published ahead of advance online publication]
• Fischer K, Ruiz HH, Jhun K, Finan B, Kalinovic A, Petrovic N, Clemmensen C, Shin AC, Divanovic S, Glasmacher E, Jastroch M, Nagler J, Schramm KW, Herzig S, Homann D, Jung S, Nedergaard J, Cannon B, Tschöp MH, Müller TD, Buettner C. Alternatively activated macrophages are dispensable for white, brown and brite adipose tissue thermogenic function. Nat Med, 2016December (accepted).
• Shin AC, Filatova N, Lindtner C, Tiffani Chi, Seta Degann, Douglas Oberlin, Buettner C. Insulin receptor signaling in POMC, but not AgRP, neurons controls adipose tissue insulin action. Diabetes, 2017 (accepted).
• Fischer K, Ruiz HH, Jhun K, Finan B, Oberlin DJ, van der Heide V, Kalinovich AV, Petrovic N, Wolf Y, Clemmensen C, Shin AC, Divanovic S, Brombacher F, Glasmacher E, Keipert S, Jastroch M, Nagler J, Schramm K, Medrikova D, Collden G, Woods SC, Herzig S, Homann D, Jung S, Nedergaard J, Cannon B, Tschöp MH, Müller TD, Buettner C. Alternatively activated macrophages do not synthesize catecholamines or contribute to adipose tissue adaptive thermogenesis. Nature Medicine, 2017 (accepted).
• Voss JD, Dhurandhar NV. Viral infections and obesity. Curr Obes Rep. 2017 Mar;6(1):28-37.
• 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 2017, 66: 358-371.

Invited Lectures by Professors

• Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar
  • Rotary Club of Bombay. 'Key to Successful Weight Loss: Knowing Facts vs Fiction.' Bombay, India. December 2016.
  • Healthway Group of Hospitals. 'Obesity prevention and treatment.' Goa, India. January 2017.
  • Garrison Institute for Aging, TTU-HSC. 'Infectobesity to anti-diabetes drug. A translational journey.' Lubbock, TX. February 2017.
  • Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Obesity management: what you will not find in text books. Georgetown, TX. March 2017.

In the Media

Students in Media

Shao-Hua Chin, Ph.D. student

• ConscienHealth on March 2, 2017 entitled 'Maybe Sitting Isn't Really the New Smoking'. 

Professors in National Media

• Dr. Martin Binks
  • ConscienHealth on January 25, 2017 entitled 'Junk Food, Junk Diets, and Junk Policy for Obesity'. 
  • ConscienHealth on February 18, 2017 entitled 'Different Foods Spark Different Parts of Your Brain'. 
• Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar
  • WIRED on December 27, 2017 entitled 'The Mysterious Virus that could cause Obesity'. 
  • Business Standard on December 28, 2017 entitled "Man Behind Aamir's 'Dangal' Look to Reveal Secrets in Book". 
  • Indiatoday on December 28, 2017 entitled 'Man Behind Aamirs Dangal Look to Reveal Secrets in Book'. 
  • UC news on December 28, 2017 entitled 'Man Behind Aamirs Dangal Look to Reveal Secrets in Book'.
  • Press Trust of India on December 28, 2017 entitled "Man Behind Aamir's 'Dangal' Look to Reveal Secrets in Book". 
  • Hindustantimes on December 28, 2017 entitled 'Aamir Khan's Dangal Nutritionist to Reveal Secrets in His New Book'. 
  • ABP News on December 28, 2016. 
  • Deccan Herald on December 28, 2016 entitled "Man Behind Aamir's 'Dangal' Look to Reveal Secrets in Book". 
  • wn.com on December 28, 2017 entitled "Man Behind Aamir's 'Dangal' Look to Reveal Secrets in Book". 
  • dailyhunt on December 28, 2016 entitled 'Man behind Aamir Khan's Dangal Look to Reveal Secrets in Book'. 
  • ukmalaylee.com on December 29, 2016 entitled 'Man behind Aamir Khan's Dangal Look to Reveal Secrets in Book'. 
  • Mother Jones on January 13, 2017 entitled 'Science Says This Weird Virus Could Make You Fat'. 
  • WAOW.com on February 10, 2017 entitled 'WI Man Diagnosed with Virus that Could Be Making People Fat'. 
  • KTTZ-FM (TTU Public Media) on February 16, 2017 entitled 'Inside Texas Tech Explores the So-Called Fat Virus'. 
  • BBC Radio on March 11, 2017 entitled 'Is Being Fat a Choice?'
  • Firstpost on April 5, 2017 entitled "Aamir Khan's 'fat to fit' video highlights dramatic weight loss for Dangal: Watch it here". 

GNO Events

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TechWell Event

• More than 800 TTU students attended the TechWell event at the Rec on February 1, 2017. The GNO had an educational booth to provide attendees with basic nutrition education on how to utilize some resources from the USDA's ChooseMyPlate.gov website.

GNO's Valentine's Day Potluck Social

• GNO had a potluck dinner for Valentine's Day on February 10, 2017. The GNO members and their friends and fairies brought various dishes to enjoy a dinner together and discussed future GNO events.

Play4kay Pink Game- Lady Raider Basketball Game

• GNO members attended the Lady Raider Basketball Game to together on February 18, 2017. The game was a special event honoring breast cancer survivors and a famous former player, Sheryl Swoopes. Sheryl played in the Lady Raider National Championship game and scored over 40 points to help the Lady Raiders win the National Championship.

Raffle Ticket Fundraiser

• The annual fundraiser for GNO was held on March 7-9, 2017. They sold raffle tickets at the Free Speech area between the SUB and the library and in the Canyon Room of COHS. They raffled off a Chromo tablet (1st prize) and a $20 Visa gift card (2nd prize).

GNO officer Positions

• GNO is preparing the selection of new officers for the next academic year (2017-2018). The open positions are President, Vice President, Treasurer, Outreach & Communication Chair, and Student Organization Representative Council Chair. Contact the President of GNO, Sophia Jimenez <sophia.jimenez@ttu.edu> if you are interested in taking a leadership role in the Department of Nutritional Sciences.

Other Announcements and Notices

Obesity Research Cluster

• The conference planned to be held on May 22 - 24, 2017 has been postponed. Check the ORC website for updates.

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 Monday & Tuesday 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Statistical Consulting Service Tuesday & Thursday 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
  • 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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