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Briefing for Vice Chancellors, Provost & Chancellor. Steve Zeisel, MD, PhD Director of the UNC Nutrition Research Institute Associate Dean for Research Kenan Professor of Nutrition steven_zeisel@unc.edu. The problem with being average. We know that people are very different.
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Briefing for Vice Chancellors, Provost & Chancellor Steve Zeisel, MD, PhD Director of the UNC Nutrition Research Institute Associate Dean for Research Kenan Professor of Nutrition steven_zeisel@unc.edu
The problem with being average We know that people are very different
The problem with being average Average requirement Optimal function Level of intake to meet requirement Yet, we assume people are average Rx with nutrient 60% show no effect 40% show effect Statistics = null effect
responder nonresponder Advantage of identifying metabolic individuality Average requirement Rx with nutrient 60% show no effect 40% show effect Statistics = significant responders Optimal function Level of intake to meet requirement
Behavior Thousands of metabolites and thousands of genes, functional markers, behaviors. Metabolite 2 Metabolite 1 One gene Single measures may not provide full picture
Concept for Nutrition Research Institute Enhance human health by using individual genetic & metabolic variations to develop nutrition solutions that target individual susceptibilities and differences.
David Murdock • 83 yo billionaire • Owner Dole Foods, Castle and Cook • Forbes ranks him among the 168th richest in the world with at least $4.4 billion • Convinced that his diet has kept him healthy, very interested in bettering health through nutrition.
Kannapolis 2 hour drive
North Carolina Research Campus at Kannapolis Hotel, shopping, fitness facility UNC-Chapel Hill Nutrition Research Institute Conference facility NC State Ag Research Institute Duke Research Institute David Murdock Core facility Existing downtown Small company incubator facilities
Nutrition Research Institute building – 120,000 sf Finished Jan. 2008
1st floor Plebotomy-Exam Rooms Behavior Assessment suite Cafe Research kitchen
2nd floor Conference rooms Administrative suite
3rd floor labs offices
4th NCCU UNC-CH A&T UNCG
Funds and faculty members • $10+ million/yr from State of North Carolina – ramps up • $3.5 million/yr rent – own in 20 yrs • 18 faculty members + staff 3 teams – brain, obesity, cancer • Administrative staff • Research funds • Doctoral student support • Community outreach/development
Core Laboratory Services 15,000 mouse facility
Core funding • Murdock Foundation $150 million for instruments and building and subsidy of operating costs. • Fdn board – 2 UNC (Waldrop, Leath), 2 Duke, 2 Murdock. • Core facility to be run by RTI with subcontract managed by Duke
Kannapolis partners • UNC Chapel Hill Nutrition Research Institute • NC State Plant Science & Ag Genetics Center • UNCC - bioinformatics • UNCG – bioactives in food • NC A&T – post harvest food processing • NCCU – zebrafish metabolism • Duke Translational Medicine Center and clinic • Girl’s science high school • Industry, biotech startups
Progress • MOU signed December 2006. $1 Million appropriated starting July 1, 2006, released January 23rd, 2007. • Hiring administrative staff – Deputy Director for Research Administration = Jana Harrison • Building – NRI steel out of ground; Core lab being bricked • Recruit faculty in 2007-08 (NRI bldg opens Jan 2008)
Issues • Faculty recruitment – will they come? • Management/personnel issues for a distal center • Core lab accessibility • Development plans