How it Started
In 1959, Congress mandated the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish clinical research centers throughout the United States to address the growing problem of human disease in America. In 1962, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) was one of the first six centers to receive funding under this mechanism.In those days, the clinical research center was located on 3 West and supported a wide range of services and staff, including a program director, dietitians, a research kitchen, social workers, a laboratory, biostatistical and computing support, nursing staff, and administrative personnel. The metabolic kitchen provided nutritious meals for many inpatient research participants, with research dietitians identifying nutritional needs and offering anthropometric services.
By the late 1980s, researchers increasingly engaged dietitians and the research kitchen for developing and delivering controlled diets. For instance, Alvarez et al. (2010) examined the role of Vitamin D intake on insulin sensitivity among African American and European American women. This study partnered with the metabolic kitchen to provide two weeks of controlled diets, ensuring participants maintained consistent macronutrient intake and weight status during the study period. Similarly, St-Onge et al. (2009) studied the effects of low-fat and high-polyunsaturated fat diets on C-reactive protein levels, finding that individuals with higher baseline CRP concentrations might benefit from a moderate-fat, high-polyunsaturated diet. The research kitchen developed and provided three different diets varying in fat percentage and type for this research.
Today's Bionutrition Unit
In 2008, UAB’s metabolic kitchen became a distinguished research cornerstone of the newly-formed Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS). Today, the Bionutrition Unit continues to offer a variety of capacities and expertise to investigators in nutrition-related research. Our dietitians assist in planning, designing, and implementing the nutritional components of research protocols, recruiting and screening research participants, and collecting and analyzing dietary intake data. The Metabolic Kitchen's research cooks are experts in preparing specially formulated research diets with precision and quality.The impact of the Bionutrition Unit's support continues to be seen in numerous studies. For example, Li (2022) found that low-carb, high-protein diets might improve the metabolic profile of people living with spinal cord injury. Gupta et al. (2023) demonstrated that low-sodium diets can improve baseline blood pressure in individuals with and without hypertension. Additionally, Mitchell (2019) showed that low-oxalate diets could reduce the frequency and severity of kidney stone formation.
The CCTS Bionutrition Unit aims to continue supporting research investigators in developing and implementing their dietary protocols, translating study results into evidence-based nutrition education to improve the health and well-being of patients and communities. Stay tuned for more insights and educational resources from the CCTS Bionutrition Unit in future features of "CCTS In Focus: Bionutrition" in the CCTS Digest. We look forward to supporting your research endeavors and promoting the importance of nutrition in health and disease prevention.
Nutrition is essential for health and wellness, impacting disease prevention and management. The "CCTS In Focus: Bionutrition" campaign highlights the critical work of the CCTS Bionutrition Unit, showcasing its support for groundbreaking research and evidence-based dietary practices. This campaign celebrates the Bionutrition Unit's contributions, providing valuable insights and resources on the latest nutrition science. Each feature aims to educate and engage the community, promoting a deeper understanding of nutrition's impact on health.
Join us in exploring the transformative power of nutrition science with the CCTS Bionutrition Unit, fostering collaboration and enhancing efforts to improve patient care and outcomes. Subscribe to the weekly CCTS Digest to stay updated on this and other CCTS events.
Bionutrition: Diet and Cancer Prevention
Cancer is a growing public health concern in the US ranking as the second leading cause of death for adults living in the US. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) about 18% of all cancers are diet-related and many of these cancers can be prevented through diet and exercise.
Cook's Corner: How to Poach an Egg
If you are looking for more ways to enjoy your eggs, check out this month’s Cook’s Corner: How to Poach an Egg, brought to you by Razel Gargollo
Bionutrition: Good Nutrition and Aging
This month's CCTS In Focus: Bionutrition feature highlights the importance of nutrition in healthy aging. Discover essential dietary recommendations for older adults and try out a special featured recipe designed for quick and healthy eating.
Bionutrition: Faces Behind the Work
The CCTS Bionutrition Unit is a bustling hub, with its Metabolic Kitchen producing thousands of meals each year. None of this would be possible without our dedicated research cooks and staff, who are passionate about the art of food and nutrition.
Empowering Health Through Nutrition
Explore the origins and impact of the CCTS Bionutrition Unit in our inaugural "CCTS In Focus: Bionutrition" feature. Learn about the history, services, and groundbreaking research supported by our dedicated team.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Time | Activity |
---|---|
12:00 - 5:00 PM | Registration and Check-In Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa, 4000 Grand Ave, Birmingham, AL 35226 |
2:30 - 4:30 PM | CCTS Strategic Planning Committee Meeting *By Invite Only* |
5:00 - 6:00 PM | Celebrating The CCTS: Reflecting on the Accomplishments of The CCTS Opening Keynote: Victoria Seewaldt, MD (City of Hope - National Cancer Center) “The Future of Community Engagement and Outcomes Research” |
6:00 - 8:00 PM | Networking and Welcome Reception (*Hors D’Oeuvres will be served*) |
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Time | Activity |
---|---|
8:00 - 8:45AM | Partner Network Scholarship Breakfast |
8:45 - 8:50AM | Opening Remarks |
8:50 - 9:50AM |
ACTion Learning – “The Reluctant Networker: Lessons for the Introverts and Extroverts” |
10:00 - 11:15AM |
Dissemination and Implementation Science |
11:30AM - 12:40PM | Lunch and Keynote Keynote Speaker: Ravi Thadhani, MD (Emory University) “Integration of research and practice across health systems and academic medical centers” |
1:00 - 2:00PM | Dissemination and Implementation Science EAC Pre-Meeting *By Invite Only* |
1:00 - 2:00PM | Leveraging Existing Datasets to Answer Research Questions (Three 20 minute mini-sessions) |
2:00 - 3:30PM | Grantsmanship Concurrent Sessions Room 1: Trainee Grantsmanship Room 2: Early Career Faculty Grantsmanship Room 3: Masterclass: Best Practices for Writing Institutional Training Grants |
3:45 - 4:55PM | Three Minute Thesis Session (Maximum of 40 slots - 2 split sessions) |
5:00 - 6:30PM | CCTS Poster Session |
6:30 - 8:00PM | CCTS Scholar’s Dinner and Keynote Keynote Speaker: Lee Hamm, MD (Tulane University) “Becoming an Early Phase Translational Researcher” |
Friday, September 27, 2024
Time | Activity |
---|---|
8:00 - 8:45AM | Partner Network Scholarship Breakfast |
8:45 - 9:00 AM | Opening Remarks |
9:00 - 10:00 AM | Keynote Speaker: Neil Lamb, PhD (HudsonAlpha Institute for BioTechnology) “Defining Career Paths in the Biotech Industry” |
10:15AM - 12:15PM |
Case Studies In Mentoring (Register through CSiM website) Sessions 1&2 |
10:15AM - 12:15PM | Career Development Concurrent Sessions Room 2: Trainee Career Development Room 3: Early Career Faculty Career Development |
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM | Industry Careers and Alternative Career Pathways |
Thank you for joining us in Birmingham for this year's symposium!
Be sure to check out our "Stay Engaged" page for more information from this year's event.
We look forward to seeing you next year!
This year's event will occur in Birmingham, AL at the Ross Bridge Renaissance Golf Resort and Spa
September 25-27, 2024 | Registration fee: free
Registration closed at 5pm (CT) on Friday, Sept. 20th.
2023 CCTS Translational Symposium attendeesThe CCTS Translational Science Symposium is a two-and-a-half-day learning event that gathers exceptional scholars and professionals of all levels of the translational career arc from across the Tri-State CCTS Partner Network. Each day of the event is filled with a robust lineup of structured training sessions and workshops administered by subject matter experts who bring a wealth of knowledge to elevate the learning experience.
Highlights include the new "Masterclass: Best Practices for Institutional Grants," the popular Three Minute Thesis presentations, an interactive ACTion Learning event, as well as the Interdisciplinary Scholars’ breakfast on September 26th and 27th showcasing posters from various T32 programs within the CCTS Partner Network. Click here to view the agenda for this event.
Keynote speakers include Victoria Seewaldt MD, Ravi Thadhani MD, Lee Hamm MD, and Neil Lamb PhD.
Key topics covered include:
- Grantsmanship
- Data Collection and Usage
- Career Development
- Networking and Collaboration
- Dissemination and Implementation Science
- Mentorship
View more details on the event location, 2024 Poster Presentations, and Three Minute Thesis applications. We look forward to your participation!
"The CCTS Symposium is honestly one of my favorite conferences, I've had the privelege to attend as a PhD student and as a Post-Doc. Each time I attend, I find the sessions to be applicable and so informative nomatter my career stage. I look forward to seeing what the next conference teaches me for the next step of my career." -Amanda Gross, PhD, Research Fellow 4, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University
September 25-27, 2024
Registration begins June 3rd