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Happy Retirement Dr. Debra Reed!

The retirement reception was held on April 20, 2018. Faculty, staff, and students gathered to celebrate Dr. Reed's many years of valuable service and to wish her well on her new journey to New Orleans! Dr. Debra Reed is a professor and the graduate advisor of Nutritional Sciences Department, and Served as the Helen DeVitt Jones Chair. Dr. Reed received her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Texas Tech University and obtained a Doctoral Degree in Community Health Science from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health. Dr. Reed worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston as a registered dietitian before she joined Texas Tech.
Dr. Reed has expertise in conducting community nutrition research which focused on developing effective nutrition interventions to prevent obesity in all races, ages, cultures, and income levels. Everyone who has known Dr. Reed can readily see her enthusiasm for nutrition and her passion for helping others. Dr. Reed has made substantial contributions to the field both in terms of her own research and also in educating and training the next generation of nutrition experts. Dr. Reed is known for encouraging students to use what they have learned in ways that impact the broader community and provides service to helping others, particularly in underserved communities.
As a Graduate Advisor, Dr. Reed always takes good care of every new incoming graduate student and gives constructive advice to help both current and future students in our department. Her warm smile and natural kindness helps both current and prospective students feel at ease as they navigate the challenges of graduate studies. Thank you Dr. Reed for everything you did for the Nutritional Sciences Department. We will miss you a lot!

 

Department Announcements

Nutritional Sciences Undergraduate Program: Nutritional Science and Dietetics (NSCD)

• While the national match rate is approximately 50%, Texas Tech dietetics students achieved a 96% match rate.
• Twenty-six students matched for a dietetic internship, and they will be representing Texas Tech University's Didactic Program in Dietetics at 14 different sites across the country and even in Puerto Rico.

Nutritional Sciences Graduate Dietetic Internship Program

• Our site received approval from the accreditation group (ACEND) to add four interns to a San Angelo site. Therefore, the size of our graduate dietetic internship program will increase from 18 to 22 interns. 

Lab Updates

Behavioral Medicine & Translational Research Lab (Dr. Binks)

• The BMTR lab website is updated! Click here <https://goo.gl/hRPfTz> to learn more.
• Free Body Fat Assessment & up to $20 Compensation for Research Study. Call/email if interested: 806-742-5194, bmtrlab@ttu.edu

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Student Achievements

• Maliha Tabassum Munir, Ph.D. student
  • Received Paul Whitfield Horn Scholarship from Texas Tech University Women's Club for Fall 2018.
  • Received Horton A. and Mildred Proctor Hobbs scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Bong Nguyen, Ph.D. student
  • Received Paul Whitfield Horn Scholarship from Texas Tech University Women's Club for Fall 2018.
  • Received W. B. "Dub" Rushing Family Scholarship in Food and Nutrition from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Kembra Albracht-Schulte, Ph.D. student
  • Received Helen DeVitt Jones Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award in Spring 2018.
• Sharmin Akter, Ph.D. student
  • Received the Study Abroad Competitive Scholarship from Study Abroad Program of TTU International Affairs for Fall 2018.
• Shao-Hua Chin, Ph.D. student
  • Received Love of Learning Awards from Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
• Kalhara Menikdiwela, Ph.D. student
  • Awarded 1st place in the oral presentation of 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting.
  • Received Margerite B. Syner Scholarship in the College of Human Sciences from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Zahra Feizy, M.S. student
  • Awarded 3rd place in the poster presentation of 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting.
• Tochi Eboh, Undergraduate student
  • Placed 2nd in the oral presentation session at 2018 TTU Undergraduate Research Conference.
• Kayla White, M.S. student
  • Received Clara McPherson Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Madalyn Weiberg, M.S. student
  • Received Clara McPherson Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
  • Received Dr. Elizabeth Fox Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Hannah Pfohl, M.S. student
  • Received Elizabeth F. Smith Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Santiago Ubaldot Capetillo Gutierrez, M.S. student
  • Received Elizabeth F. Smith Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Shasika Udahawatte, Ph.D. student
  • Received Dr. Gail E. Gates Nutritional Sciences Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
  • Received Food and Nutrition Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
  • Received Reuby Tom Maeker Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Makenzie Miller, M.S. student
  • Received Helen C. Brittin Scholarship for Food and Nutrition from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Samudani Dhanasekara, Ph.D. student
  • Received Horton A. and Mildred Proctor Hobbs scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Yaqiong Zu, Ph.D. student
  • Received Jack and Mildred Buchanan Nutritional Sciences Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Mehrnaz Abbasi, Ph.D. student
  • Received Jack and Mildred Buchanan Nutritional Sciences Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Sarah Sprayberry, Ph.D. student
  • Received Jane Williams Gamble and Joe Gamble Fellowship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
  • Received Mina Lamb Doctoral Fellowship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Stephen Gilmore, M.S. student
  • Received Jean Poteet Jones Memorial Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Li-Ling Peng, Ph.D. student
  • Received Jean Poteet Jones Memorial Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Mia Morales-Martinez, Undergraduate student
  • Received Lanell Camp (Chambers) and Edythe Carlton (Chambers) Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Lauryn Lusher, Undergraduate student
  • Received Lanell Camp (Chambers) and Edythe Carlton (Chambers) Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Amber Ritz, Undergraduate student
  • Received Lanell Camp (Chambers) and Edythe Carlton (Chambers) Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Kambra Thurmon, Undergraduate student
  • Received Lanell Camp (Chambers) and Edythe Carlton (Chambers) Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Sanjoy Saha, Ph.D. student
  • Received Laurel Earline Weddle Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
  • Received Margarette Harden Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Hazera Sufian, Ph.D. student
  • Received Margaret Chan Carter Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Jennifer Alvarez, Undergraduate student
  • Received Mina W. Lamb Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Rufus Theophilus, M.S. student
  • Received Mozelle Craddock Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
  • Received S. P. Yang Scholarship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Jada Rankin, Undergraduate student
  • Received W. B. "Dub" Rushing Family Scholarship in Food and Nutrition from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019.
• Temitope Ibiyemi, Ph.D. student
  • Received Mina Lamb Doctoral Fellowship from the Department of Nutritional Sciences for 2018-2019..

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Faculty Awards

• Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa
  • Received 2018 Nancy J. Bell Graduate Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Award. https://goo.gl/KVPTxg
• Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar
  • Received 2018 Texas Tech Parents Association Barnie E. Rushing, Jr. Faculty Distinguished Research Award (STEM disciplines).
• Dr. Mandana Pahlavani
  • Awarded a two-year fellowship from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) Education and Literacy Initiative. The fellowship will focus on Integrated gene and microRNA networks mediating anti-inflammatory effects of omega 3 fatty acids in diet-induced obesity.
  • Finalist for the international DSM Science and Technology Award for her dissertation entitled Cellular and molecular basis for omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid regulation of brown adipose tissue.
• Dr. John Dawson
  • Selected as one of the Top Reviewers for The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN).
• Dr. Mary Murimi
  • Recognized as the first runner-up for TTU Global Engagement Community Award for significant contributions to the impact of Texas Tech across the globe. https://goo.gl/ThR9Yy

 

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Patents, Publications, Invited Lectures and Boards

Students' Oral Presentations

• Quarles WR, Kahathuduwa CN, Davis T, Binks M. Feature Importance from Random Forest Analysis Shows No Variable More Important than Random Chance in Behavioral Food Cue Reactivity. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.
• Zu Y, Zhao L, Hao L, Wu D, Wang S. The anti-obesity effects of adipose stromal cell-targeted resveratrol-loaded nanoparticles in C57BL/6J mice. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.

Students' Posters

• Quarles WR, Kahathuduwa CN, Davis T, O'Boyle M, Binks M. BMI and Body Fat Mass Are Differentially Associated with fMRI Food-cue Reactivity in Individuals with Obesity. 17th Annual TTU Graduate Research Poster Competition; 2018 Apr; Lubbock, TX.
• Moyeda A. Community-based Assessment and Intervention for the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes and its Complications among Hispanics in Lubbock, Texas and in a Mexico-Texas Border City. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2015 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Munir MT, Santos JM , Khan ZS, Tarafdar K, Hussain F, Rahman SM. Vitamin D3 (calcitriol) reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inhibits stemness and cell migration in breast cancer. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Zahid MK, Scoggin S, Yamasaki M, Arakawa T , Rahman SM. Blueberry leaf extract inhibits foam cell formation and activates autophagy in macrophages via AMPK/mTOR signaling. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Moseley M,Quarles WR, Kahathuduwa CN, Davis T, Binks M. Three Factor Eating Questionnaire Predicts Food Craving Inventory Scores in Individuals with Obesity. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.
• Quarles WR, Kahathuduwa CN, Davis T, Binks M. Predicting Weight-Related Activity Limitations in Individuals with Obesity. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.
• Huang W, Chin S, Kahathuduwa CN, Quarles WR, Davis T, Binks M. Fat Mass but not Body Weight is Associated with YFAS Score in People Undergoing Weight Loss Treatment. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.
• Huang W, Chin S, Quarles WR, Davis T, Binks M. Depression Moderates the Relationships between PFS Score and Fat Mass Reduction in People with Obesity. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.
• Akter S, Dawson JA, Chin S, Davis T, Quarles W, Huang W, Binks M. Do Weight Cycling, Age of Onset, Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and Power of Food Scale Predict Initial Weight Loss in People with Obesity? Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.
• Chin S, Kahathuduwa CN, Davis T, Binks M. Increased Duration of Participation in a Calorie Restriction Intervention Is Associated with a Greater Reduction in Self-Reported Hunger in People with Obesity. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.
• Olvera HE, Chin S, Kahathuduwa CN, Davis T, Binks M. Lower Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is Associated with Less Fat Mass Reduction during Initial Weight loss: Implications for Early Intervention. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.
• Liu J, Zhang J, Zu Y, Li C, Cao J, Afruza R, Hao L, Wang S. Anti-atherogenic Effects of T0901317 Nanoparticles in LDL Receptor Knockout Mice. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.
• Hao L, Scott S, Abbasi M, Zu Y, Khan MSH, Wang S. Metabolic beneficial effects of mirabegron in vitro and in high -fat diet- induced obese mice. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.
• Abbasi M, Zhang J, Zu Y, Wang S. Effect of EGCG-loaded nanoparticles on macrophage cholesterol accumulation and inflammation. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2018 Jun; Boston, MA.

Professors' Posters

• Binks M, Kahathuduwa C, Davis T. Do Scores on the Power of Food Scale Reflect Brain Food-cue Reactivity in People with Obesity? Proceeding 25th European Congress on Obesity; 2018 May; Vienna, Austria.
• Liyanage S, Bouyanfif A, Ramalingam L, Moustaid-Moussa N, Abidi N. FTIR microspectroscopy application to study dietary induced changes in adipose and liver tissues. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Patkar PP, Hao Z, Mumphrey MB, Ballard BL, Berthoud HR, Shin AC. Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism is improved in a mouse model of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Menikdiwela K, Clevenger S, Eboh T, Ramalingam L, Allen L, Scoggin S, Moustaid-Moussa N. Maternal and offspring supplementation with fish oil improves metabolic health in dietinduced obesity. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Rosenbrock GJ, Dharavath N, Beights R, Moustaid-Moussa N, Mastergeorge AM, Kahathuduwa CN. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Cox MA, Rosenbrock GJ, Dharavath N , Beights R, Moustaid-Moussa N, Mastergeorge AM, Kahathuduwa CN. Relative risk of development overweight and obesity in individuals with ASD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Jayarathne S, Stull A , Ramalingam L, Pahlavani M, Moustaid-Moussa N. Anti-inflammatory Effects of Tart Cherry Anthocyanins in Adipose Tissue. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Albracht-Schulte K , Rosairo S, Ramalingam L , Wijetunge S , Ratnayake RMCJ, Kotakadeniya HMSRB, Dawson JA , Kalupahana N, Moustaid-Moussa N. Central Adiposity is a Strong Predictor of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in South Asian Women. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Parajulia P, Liyanagea S, Rajakarunaa H , Ramalingam L, Moustaid-Moussa N, Abidi N. FTIR Microspectroscopy study of the oxidative damage occurring in Mouse White Adipose Tissue. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Siddik A, Peddibhotla S, Patkar P, Das B , Weiss L , Dhurandhar NV, Hegde V. A MetAP2 Inhibitor Suppresses Adipogenesis, Yet, Enhances Glucose Uptake. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.
• Feizy Z, Peddibhotla S, Wang S, Hegde V, Dhurandhar NV. Nano-liposome-mediated delivery of the anti-diabetic protein E4orf1. 4th Annual TTU Obesity Research Cluster Meeting; 2018 May; Lubbock, TX.

Journal Articles

• Shin AC, MohanKumar SMJ, Balasubramanian P, Sirivelu MP, Linning K, Woolcock A, James M, MohanKumar PS. Responsiveness of HPA axis to leptin is impaired in diet-induced obese rats. Nutrition & Diabetes. 2018 (submitted).
• Kaufman K, Chin S, Kahathuduwa CN, Wood M, Feliu M, Hill L, Barker C, Reif R, Keys A, Edwards CL, Binks M. Body Mass Index, Psychosocial Correlates, Pain and Activities of Daily Living in Adult Sickle Cell Disease Patients. PROGPREVMED (In Press). 

Published Chapters in Books and Books

• Satler A, Childress A. The Ultimate New Mom's Cookbook: A Complete Food and Nutrition Resource for Expectant Mothers, Babies and Toddlers. Page Street Publishing: Salem, MA, 2018.

Invited Lectures by Professors

• Dr. Mary Murimi
  • TTU Climate Science Center. 'Climate and Food'. Lubbock, TX. April 3, 2018.

Symposia

• Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar
  • HEAL U 2018: Clinical Symposium. 'Essentials of a Good Weight Loss Diet' El Paso, TX. April 14, 2018. https://goo.gl/m9Ec4m
  • HEAL U 2018: Clinical Symposium. 'Weight loss program or obesity management program: What is the difference?' El Paso, TX. April 14, 2018. https://goo.gl/m9Ec4m
• Dr. Martin Binks
  • HEAL U 2018: Clinical Symposium. 'Developing comprehensive, multidisciplinary obesity interventions: Guidance for solo providers or complete teams' El Paso, TX. April 14, 2018. https://goo.gl/m9Ec4m
  • HEAL U 2018: Clinical Symposium. 'Motivating human behavior: Health coaching for the frontline provider' El Paso, TX. April 14, 2018. https://goo.gl/m9Ec4m

Miscellaneous Board and Other Appointments

• Dr. Martin Binks
  • Appointed Editor in Chief of the journal Progress in Preventive Medicine - official journal of the European Society of Preventive Medicine. http://progprevmed.com/

 

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