Research Interest Sections (RISs) were established as part of the American Institute of Nutrition in the early 1990s by Dr. Vernon Young and colleagues "to ensure representation of and support for the various areas of nutritional research within the publications and scientific programs of the Institute, and provide a mechanism for effective involvement of the membership in the affairs of the Institute, and enhance the participation of and contact with scientists in other disciplines who have interest in the scientific fields related to nutrition." (RIS Charter) Any member may join any of the 16 RISs listed below. A new listserv protocol has been developed. For now, until it is totally up and running, please email Diana Tavares: dtavares@nutrition.org if you have questions relating to your use of this RIS communication tool. You recently received from Diana instructions for the use of it.
2008-2009-2010 Research Interest Sections
Research Interest Sections
Director
Cindy Davis
Bethesda, MD
Term Ends:2010
Aging and Chronic Disease
As our population ages, nutrition plays a critical role in the
health and well-being
of older adults. The purpose of the Aging and Chronic Disease RIS
is to promote
nutrition research in aging and chronic disease-related areas
using both qualitative
and quantitative research methods.
Joseph Sharkey, Chair
Texas A&M University
Term Ends: 2010
Community and Public Health
Nutrition
A community for ASN members with research focused on (1) the
determination
and assessment of nutritional status in human populations,
including national
nutrition studies; (2) the evaluation of interventions to
maintain and improve the
health and well-being of human populations including nutrition
education, food
assistance, food and nutrition supplementation, and food
fortification programs,
and (3) food, nutrition, and related health and social policies.
Sonya Jones, Chair
University of South Carolina
Term Ends: 2010
Diet and Cancer
This RIS focuses on the impact of nutritional status and dietary
factors in cancer
development; the role of diet in modulating cellular, biochemical
and molecular
events associated with carcinogenesis at numerous sites in animal
and human
models; and the relevance and application of research in the
field of cancer
chemoprevention.
Nancy Turner, Chair
Texas A&M University
Term Ends: 2010
Dietary Bioactive
Components
Does your work contribute to our understanding of the efficacy
and safety of
foods and their biologically active compounds? If so, you belong
in this RIS, which
focuses on elucidating the biological, biochemical and genetic
basis by which such compounds may reduce the risk of chronic
disease, contribute to toxic effects or convey health benefits.
Policy and regulatory affairs of foods and biologically active
compounds are also addressed.
Mario Ferruzzi, Chair
Purdue University
Term Ends: 2010
Energy and Macronutrient
Metabolism
RIS members research the function and metabolism of major energy yielding substrates (carbohydrates, lipids and their derivatives), amino acids and proteins. This Section encompasses research concerned with cellular, tissue, organ, and whole body metabolism and the integration and regulation of metabolism in vivo, under normal healthy and various pathophysiological chronic disease conditions. It covers basic and applied research on the influence of macronutrients and dietary supplements on metabolism, human performance, and body composition.
Sean Adams, Chair
USDA/ARS
Term Ends: 2010
Experimental Animal
Nutrition
A home for ASN members who research the nutritional
characteristics of animal
species other than man, particularly of animals used by man as
sources of food
and fiber. The biological level of organization of research
interest ranges from
the subcellular and cellular to populations of the species;
emphasis often given
to research in whole animals. Includes nutrition research in
companion animals,
exotic species and marine animals.
Sung Woo Kim, Chair
North Carolina State University
Term Ends: 2010
Lactation
Join this RIS if you study factors related to human milk,
lactation, breastfeeding
and maternal and child health and well-being during the
postpartum period. The
scope of interest encompasses lactational physiology at the
molecular, cellular
and organismal levels; regulation and significance of human milk
composition;
breastfeeding behaviors and practices, and a range of outcome
variables related
to both the mother and infant. Activities are coordinated with
the International
Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation.
Donna Chapman, Chair
University of Connecticut
Term Ends: 2010
Mathematical Modeling
This Section is comprised of members performing research that
involves
mathematical and/or statistical expression and analysis of any
aspect of nutrient
metabolism or of physiologic mechanisms affected by nutrients.
Includes both
animal and human nutrition, and includes all levels of structure,
from molecular to
whole body metabolism.
Heidi Johnson, Chair
University of California at Davis
Term Ends: 2010
Nutrient-Gene Interactions
The Nutrient-Gene Interactions RIS is focused on: (1) mechanisms
of gene
expression and their regulation by nutrients and other dietary
constituents; (2)
identification of novel genes that influence the effect of
dietary components on
health and disease processes, and (3) the influence of genetic
variation on the
metabolic response to dietary factors. Emphasizes the concepts
and techniques
in the areas of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology,
genetics, genomics,
proteomics and systems biology. Nutrition research ranges from
the molecular to
the organismal level in humans and other vertebrates, and model
organisms such
as yeast.
Tracy Anthony, Chair
Indiana University
Term Ends: 2010
Nutrition Education
Members focus on the communication of nutrition science
information to the
general public to help them understand the relationship between
diet and
health to food practices, and to individuals with specific
dietary needs to change
behaviors conducive to health and well-being. RIS activity
includes research
on nutrition information transfer, factors that affect eating
patterns, effects of
nutrition knowledge on behavioral change, behavior modification
to improve
health, and motivating factors for change. Includes the
development and testing
of effective and efficient nutrition education materials,
programs, and activities for
target subgroups of the population.
Cindy Fitch, Chair
West Virginia University
Term Ends: 2010
Nutrition Translation from Bench
to Consumer
This RIS provides a forum for scientists from academia,
government, industry and
private practice to address the conversion of nutrition knowledge
from the “lab
bench to the consumer.” RIS members explore ways to translate key
findings in
nutrition research science into practical applications that can
be used to improve
human health.
Douglas DiRienzo, Chair
National Dairy Council
Term Ends: 2010
Nutritional Epidemiology
[elections will be held in the summer of 2009]
ASN members investigating the relationships between diet,
nutritional status and health in human populations will be at
home in this RIS. Focuses include: studying the interactions of
lifestyle, environmental, and genetic exposures on health status,
and researching assessment methods, biomarkers, and other
statistical and epidemiological techniques. RIS members integrate
these finding with clinical research to elucidate nutrition's
impact in the etiology and prevention of disease.
Anna Maria Siega-Riz, Chair
University of North Carolina School of Public Health
Term Ends: 2009
Nutritional Immunology
Members elucidate the impact of nutritional status and dietary
factors on
the functioning of the immune system, and the impact of
inflammation,
autoimmunity, and infection on the nutritional status of
individuals. Researchers
who conduct human clinical or field trials as well as those who
use various
animal and cell models to address either basic or applied
questions about the
workings of the immune system are welcome.
Dayong Wu, Chair
Tufts University
Term Ends: 2010
Vitamins and Minerals
Promotes research on the basic understanding of the function,
metabolism,
and utilization to establish nutritional recommendations. This
RIS strives to
encourage the development of new research techniques to better
understand
and promote the contributions of these vitamins and minerals to
health
promotion and disease prevention.
James Swain, Chair
Case Western Reserve University
Term Ends: 2010
CARIG
CARIG's mission is to promote research into nutritional roles, functions, and actions of carotenoids and their metabolites; provide a mechanism for the dissemination of new research; serve as a liaison representing the interests of the carotenoid research community to government agencies and other organizations; promote and support the training of young researchers; and communicate to the wider research community and the public.
Sherry Tanumihardjo, Chair
University of Wisconsin at Madison
Term Ends: 2010
OBESITY
Caroline Apovian, Chair
Boston Medical Center
Term ends: 2010
Please contact the RIS Director Cindy Davis
[davisci@mail.nih.gov] if you have any additional questions.