Recipient Organization
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
1680 MADISON AVENUE
WOOSTER,OH 44691
Performing Department
Human Nutrition
Non Technical Summary
Obesity and obesity-linked cancers are reaching epidemic proportions worldwide. Weight loss, using traditional diets and exercise, has high failure rates. Researchers and clinicians are seeking complementary approaches using bioactive compounds to mimic energy restriction, to reduce obesity and obesity-linked cancer risk.Training the next generation of scientists, to utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to combat obesity and associated cancers, is imperative. Fellows in this training program will learn to incorporate food engineering principles to manipulate the diet to influence whole body physiology, energy metabolism and metabolomics.Three doctoral student Fellows will learn and utilize state-of-the-art approaches to address the obesity-cancer question. Through classroom, experiential and professional training, Fellows will develop skills needed for success in the changing workplaces in academia, government and industry. Success will be measured by the awarding of degrees, quality of dissemination of research as well as placement and follow-up tracking of Fellows into the competitive outlets for science in academia, government and/or industry. In this proposal, we address the Food Science, Human Sciences and Human Nutrition TESA and address Code F (Food Science/Technology/Manufacturing/Safety) and Code N (Human Nutrition). We request funds for supporting 3 Fellows in Category 2: Doctoral Level Training.
Animal Health Component
20%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
60%
Applied
20%
Developmental
20%
Goals / Objectives
Training and developing the next generation of diverse biomedical scientists using a multidisciplinary approach to utilize state-of-the-art technology will improve science of identifying, testing and validating foods that target energy metabolism to reduce obesity and obesity-linked cancers (Byars-Winston 2011). The Ohio State University (OSU) is uniquely poised to offer cutting edge training in biomedical science to address the obesity epidemic and curtail cancers associated with obesity. The goal of this training grant is to recruit and train 3 Fellows in Doctoral Level Training.
Project Methods
Candidate recruitment will occur during the first half of year one. All U.S. institutions will be invited to nominate potential Fellows, and the master list will be shared with OSUN and FST graduate program admissions committees. Exceptional students will receive recruitment materials including description of the program and Fellowship. We will advertise via college diversity offices, professional organizations, national list services and OSU websites. A webpage will offer application materials, deadlines, and contact information.Campus visits greatly increase the likelihood that the student will join OSU and helps the applicant to choose a mentor. The top five candidates will be invited for a two-day visit to learn about the opportunities, meet current students, and engage faculty members, with travel support provided by FIC (letter of support).In 2015, the percentage of doctoral degrees conferred by Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and American Indians/Alaskan Natives was .06%, .05% and .003% respectively (NCES 2015). This is far below the actual percentages of Hispanic American (17.6%) African Americans (13.3%) and American Indian/Alaskan Native (2%) residents in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau 2016). We will collaborate with Ms. Carolyn Morales, Director of OSU's Graduate School Diversity Initiatives (ORDI) (letter of support). Ms. Morales conducts annual recruitment at national conferences such as the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS).Our graduate programs have an excellent track record of attracting the very best applicants. Letters of recommendation from previous instructors, internship supervisors, or academic advisors must show strength of academic background, work ethic, motivation, and successful research activity. All applicants must submit a resume showing potential to excel in the TESA. If the candidate is competitive, we will conduct an on-campus interview where we seek evidence of the candidate's commitment to a career in food and nutrition for obesity and cancer prevention. Applications will be accepted through Feb 15, personal interviews held through Apr 30, students notified of acceptance or rejection by May 31, and Fellowships ideally begun Sept 1, 2018.In line with the Food Science, Human Nutrition, and Human Sciences TESA, this training program cultivates abilities that prepare Fellows to excel in food and nutrition careers devoted to improving the nation's health, with an emphasis on obesity and cancer prevention. The Fellow will select courses in consultation with their Mentor with the majority of coursework completed by year two. Fellows will also conduct three 5-week laboratory rotations during the first semester to aid interdisciplinary learning and to choose a dissertation topic. Training will continue between semesters, allowing Fellows to focus on research skills. Fellows will take a candidacy exam and defend their research proposal during year three. Dissertation research and writing may continue through years four, and if needed, five; the final assessment is the dissertation defense.Each Fellow is expected to attain four core competencies: (1) conduct multidisciplinary research involving the design, implementation and analysis of discoveries in food and nutrition for obesity and cancer prevention; (2) integrate nutrition and food science, nutrition, energy metabolism/obesity/endocrinology and cancer concepts from coursework, (3) prepare grants, teach, and communicate research results, and (4) develop leadership and management skills through experiential activities. Each Fellow will be immersed in a collaborative research project that goes beyond traditional boundaries of food and nutrition.Both the dissertation committee (Advisor plus at least two mentors) and the four PDs will play an active role in assessing and sustaining each Fellow's progress. The four PDs have a formal meeting every semester with the fellows and informally as needed. Each Fellow writes an annual report of progress and research plans for the next year that is optimized by PD review.Our experience shows high quality mentoring is critical to training. Mentors (Table 4) will be selected based on the Fellow's research interest. Each Fellow meets with their primary mentor(s) frequently and dissertation committee at semi-annually. Mentors advise the Fellow on coursework, research, research ethics, conference presentations, grant writing, and internship, and will create a pipeline to post-graduation employment with upward mobility in academic (e.g. postdoctoral researcher to tenured professor), industry (e.g. food scientist to chief research officer), and government (e.g. USDA postdoctoral researcher to USDA undersecretary ) settings.We have successful graduates, including previous NNFs. PD Dr. Belury has successfully trained 15 PhD students, 10 MS students, and 6 visiting scientists and post-doctoral researchers, and currently has four graduate students in her lab group. Her past trainees hold academic, government and industry positions. Co-PD Clinton currently has one clinical fellow, and three PhD students in his laboratory. He has previously mentored five clinical fellows, 46 pre-doctoral trainees and 15 post-doctoral trainees. These trainees have moved forward to successful careers in academia, clinical medicine and industry, winning awards such as the Ruth L. Kirschstein NCCAM Pre-Doctoral Fellowship. Co-PD Lee has trained a total of 33 graduate students and currently has two PhD students and one postdoctoral researcher in his lab. Dr. Lee's students have been the recipients of several awards and internships, including a NASA internship. Dr. Lee has led three previous successful NNGF projects. Co-PD Vodovotz has trained 21 MSc and 9 PhD students and currently has 1 PhD student, 3 MS students, and one visiting scholar in her laboratory.