Exploring Nutritional Pathways to Health

Different genetic make-ups predispose mice to consume different amounts of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. The same may be true of humans.

About the Center for Advanced Nutrition (CAN)

  • Utah State University’s nutrition research team aims to understand the mechanisms through which diet impacts health and disease from the level of the gene to the whole individual. The Center focuses on the modern scourges of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases of aging such as Alzheimer’s. Nutrition research provides opportunities to identify biomarkers for health and disease, and the discovery of new targets for pharmacotherapy.
2008 Highlights

Genetics and Diet

  • Established a Human Nutrition Research Group and developed the facilities to conduct rigorously controlled nutrition research studies.
  • Expanded analytical capabilities to include high-throughput biomarker screening.
  • Established relationships with industry (nationally and in state).
  • Licensed technology to a local company to sell antibody products.
  • Initiated research to identify genetic and biological markers related to Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive function.
  • Initiated research to identify biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease risk factor responses to diets.
  • Submitted a federal SBIR grant.

     
2009 Goals

Testing and Outreach

  • Continue developing a Bioactives consortium involving the Center for Advanced Nutrition, USDA Poisonous Plants Laboratory, and other USU and Weber State University faculty.
  • Deliver against milestones in federal studies (up to $3.37 million in grants pending).
  • Expand outreach activities to the natural products industry ($4 billion annual impact on Utah’s economy), with the potential for increased industry-sponsored research taking place at USU.
CAN is studying the impact of foods high in phytosterols in combating cardiovascular disease.

Nutrition and the Next Healthcare Revolution

  • Nutrition research promises to expand development of new tests and products, and to shape nutritional approaches to prevent disease. The potential market for in-vitro diagnostics – one area CAN is exploring – topped an estimated $30 billion worldwide in 2005. With sweeping changes in personalized healthcare occurring, CAN’s efforts can potentially support Utah’s natural products industry and create new biomedical companies.