Improving the health of future generations N UUTRITIONT R I T I O N SPRINGSSPRINGPRING 2007 22006006 MATTERS PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER AND FOUNDATION • LSU SYSTEM ETHE XPRESCRIPTION E R CFOR WHATI S AILS E US HART-D TESTING EXERCISE AS A PRESCRIPTION FOR BETTER HEALTH A common in combination with at least one Soon nearly 400 diabetics will enter prescription day a week of resistance training’ our clinic to undergo aerobic exercise for a lot of is needed. But no one has tested on a treadmill, resistance training on what ails us is daily exercise. this prescription. A new study now weight machines, or a combination "Most diabetes interest groups say '30- For those with diabetes, daily underway will do exactly that.” of both. They will all undergo a minutes of physical activity most days exercise can be the key to controlling blood test, called hemoglobin a1c of the week in combination with at least one day a week of resistance training.' this serious disease, because exercise Church’s thought is that skeletal (Hba1c), to determine long-range muscle – the muscles we use But no one has tested this prescription. forces muscles to consume blood results on blood sugar. A new study now underway will do in weight lifting or aerobically sugar, helping to keep levels in the exactly that." - Dr. Tim Church healthy range. The problem is how exercising – are the real consumers Church, also the holder of the to choose the type of exercise. of blood sugar, but interestingly, John S. McIlhenny Endowed Chair here,” Church said, “is to determine exercise improves blood sugar in Health Wisdom, will be able the affect of each type of exercise Center researcher Tim Church, through different mechanisms. Thus to scientifically determine if the routine, and possibly provide M.D., Ph.D., makes an interesting the type of exercise performed may different types of exercise are equally doctors a wider range of activities point, “Most diabetes interest effect the amount of blood sugar beneficial and provide physicians to prescribe to their patients for groups say ‘30-minutes of physical used and the combination may be with information they can easily better blood sugar control and over activity most days of the week especially beneficial. understand and use. “The hope health.” L. Heidel Brown's Legacy Recognized with Major Gift to PBRF L. Heidel Brown was a highly- since Irene and C. B. “Doc” opportunity to leverage private respected Baton Rouge businessman Pennington, Sr. made their initial support in this way will encourage and real estate entrepreneur. He gift, which lead to the opening of others to invest their dollars into the built C. J. Brown and Associates, the the institution 19 years ago. We are Center.” company founded by his father, into indeed thankful for this important one of the largest brokerage firms in contribution.” The PBRC strategic plan, called Louisiana and was instrumental in Vision 2010, established 10 major the economic development of Baton According to PBRF Chairman John priorities. “This gift is another step Rouge and the lower Mississippi Noland, “Mrs. Brown has been an forward in making our priorities River region. Brown’s influence went ardent donor and supporter of the within reach,” added Dr. Bouchard. L. Heidel Brown far beyond his business acumen. Pennington Biomedical Research “The gift will help the Center to Center for many years and is vitally expand its research capability to The Pennington Biomedical Research He was a founder of the Baton interested in its ongoing work.” investigate the study of prevention Foundation (PBRF) has received a Rouge Area Foundation and worked Noland said, “Her gift will help the of chronic diseases such as heart one million-dollar gift from Mrs. L. tirelessly for the betterment of his Center accomplish the goals outlined disease, diabetes, cancer and obesity; Heidel Brown in memory of her late community by contributing his in the institution’s five year strategic to add expertise in research related husband, L. Heidel Brown. leadership and resources to countless nonprofit and civic organizations. He plan.” to nutrition, physical activity Mrs. Brown made the gift to and genetics; and to translate is remembered for his vision and his Noland said that PBRC research demonstrate the importance of the our discoveries for the benefits of integrity. scientists can successfully acquire Center's breakthrough research individuals, families, and larger more than $3 in additional research and its contributions to economic Claude Bouchard, executive director communities of people.” grants for every $1 of unrestricted development. In making the gift, of the PBRC, in acknowledging the support they receive. “This is a Mrs. Brown said, “Through this gift, gift noted that “This is the largest great incentive, and we hope the Heidel’s legacy will live on.” gift to the Center from an individual PRESENTATION AND TOUR HIGHLIGHTS PBRC Message from the FUNDING NEEDS FOR NEW CLINICAL BUILDING Executive Director of the The Pennington Pennington Biomedical Biomedical Research Center Research Center opened its doors to two groups n a few months, we will have reached President William Jenkins, we have recently as part I the midpoint of our five-year strate- approached the legislature with a request of an effort to gic plan, Vision 2010. Based on the moni- to fund this project as part of our state’s ▲ PBRC Executive Director raise awareness toring of ten priorities, we have made economic development activities. This Claude Bouchard, Baton Rouge Area Chamber President/CEO for the need significant progress. For the first time in facility alone will create 300 direct and Stephen Moret, Forum 35 for support our history, we have 80 faculty on staff, 200 indirect jobs and generate $15 to $20 Leader Jeff English, and A6 and funding and are currently recruiting even more. million per year in new research grants Organizer Michael Trufant to expand its Many of our new researchers will be in and contracts. We are hopeful about the clinical services. The event was organized by the the field of Population Science – a third process and have received some encour- PBRF and involved more than a dozen scientists in research area that is growing in size and agement from the Board of Regents and the tour. Dr. Claude Bouchard, PBRC's executive significance at the Pennington Biomedical leaders in the Louisiana Department of director, noted in a presentation to Forum 35 and A6 Research Center. Economic Development. We will also community groups that plans have been drawn up be seeking a substantial increase in the Our Basic Science program is focused on for a $25 million clinical research building to expand annual legislative allocation to the Center the molecular, cellular and genetic basis of the Center’s mission. The Pennington Biomedical in order to recruit new scientists so that Research Center can leverage this investment into nutrition and chronic disease prevention, we can continue to improve the depth of greater funding from federal agencies, food companies while our Clinical Research activities are the science pursued at PBRC. and drug manufacturers. This would lead to millions focused on the effects of new medicines, more in research dollars exercise and diet on humans. In contrast, In our efforts for continuous improve- and create hundreds population scientists study communities ment, all six of our research divisions are of good-paying jobs. and society at large. themselves under the microscope this Stephen Moret, year. Indeed, external review boards will Our population scientists will conduct president and chief come to Baton Rouge to examine each research programs on nutrition and executive officer of division in regard to the quality of sci- exercise in schools and communities, the Baton Rouge Area ence, human and physical resources, and ▲ New Proposed Clinical minority health behaviors, the nutritional Chamber, says securing programmatic issues. Our vision is to be health of expectant mothers, nutrition more money for the best at what we do; a vision we could Pennington is his top economic development priority. and physical activity epidemiology and not attain without this expert review and Moret told the group that PBRC is the biggest epidemiology of chronic diseases with without your support. economic development asset in the region. After the particular attention to disease prevention. presentation, the group toured the Center and got an I look forward to reporting more in our At the beginning of the current five-year “insider’s view” of the ongoing work and the chance efforts to remain the leading center of Strategic Plan, we moved scientists to visit with the scientists to learn more. A6 leader, research in nutrition and to play a grow- into our new Basic Science Laboratory Michael Trufant, noted during the program that this is ing role in the development of innovative Building, knowing well that we would the right type of priority we need to support. and effective formulas to prevent obesity, also soon need a new clinical research diabetes, cardiovascular disease and The PBRC campus is home to eight mobile office facility. We have already invested approxi- cancer. units, predominately mately $2.5 million in the site planning, located on the second design and architectural specifications floor of a parking garage. for the latter project. With a price tag of This one is adjacent about $25 million, we are unable to use to the PBRC Clinical Claude Bouchard, Ph.D. current resources to undergo construc- Building, which is in PBRC Executive Director, tion. With the assistance of our sup- George A. Bray, Jr. Super Chair in Nutrition need of expansion. ▲ Mobile Offices porting foundations and of LSU System two FFOUNDATIONO U N D A T I O N SPECIAL RECOGNITION Announcing A New Chair in Heart Disease Prevention BARTON HONORED AND RECOGNIZED TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF FAIRFAX FOSTER BAILEY WITH "THE JOHN W.