Research Highlights
An interplay between prenatal and placental health and childhood growth patterns
The placenta, a temporary organ that supports a baby’s development during pregnancy, is crucial to fetal growth and development, supplying nutrients and oxygen, removing waste, and producing signaling factors. Exposures during pregnancy, like Mom’s environment and her physiology, can affect placental health, which in turn could have consequences for her baby’s health. A team of […]
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Dietary fiber structure matters, maybe more than gut bacterial community
Eating different kinds of dietary fiber affects our microbiota, the bacteria that live in our guts, which can in turn affect our overall health. How these dietary fibers, found in fruits, vegetables, and grains, help beneficial gut bacteria grow and how these fibers break down into other bioactive metabolites that benefit the body is an […]
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ACNC Investigator, Dr. Aline Andres is elected to the National Academy of Medicine
One of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine, Aline Andres, Ph.D., RD, professor of pediatrics, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine, recognized for her global leadership defining how exposures during pregnancy and lactation affect maternal-child outcomes. Dr. Andres and been instrumental in driving several of the ACNC’s rigorously conducted […]
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Reviewing a role for polyphenols in breastmilk for healthy infant development
Polyphenols are a broad class of plant bioactive molecules found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Existing and emerging evidence links healthy dietary patterns to maternal and child health benefits, and many healthy dietary patterns are high in polyphenol-containing foods. There is increasing interest in dietary bioactives such as polyphenols in breastmilk, their bioactivity and […]
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Statistics about the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center
A Cooperative Effort
The ACNC is a cooperative effort of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service and Arkansas Children’s, the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute and UAMS.
One of Six National Human Nutrition Centers
Established in 1994 on the Arkansas Children’s Hospital campus, the ACNC is one of six National Human Nutrition Centers funded through the USDA-ARS.
One of Two Centers Specializing in Pediatrics
The ACNC is one of two National Human Nutrition Centers focusing primarily on pediatric/maternal nutrition and metabolic health.
About the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center
Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center uses modern procedures, equipment, and facilities to determine how early-life exposures to diet, dietary factors, physical activity, and other factors can affect biological systems including brain development, skeletal health, adipose tissue development, gastrointestinal health, immune system development, cardiometabolic health, and whole-body metabolism. Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center investigators are UAMS Department of Pediatrics faculty members within the section of Developmental Nutrition and receive funding beyond USDA-ARS, including the National Institutes of Health, non-profits, and industry partners. The Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center also receives funding from the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, which was created as the major research component of the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act of 2000.
Core Research Facilities
With approximately 54,000 square feet of shared research space, the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center provides ever-expanding clinical research facilities, laboratories, equipment, and Core Facilities designed for its team of over 75 scientists and support staff.
Maternal and Early Nutrition for Optimal Growth and Development (MEND) Core
Well-equipped for both long- and short-term research, the clinical research core has a robust record supporting large, longitudinal and RCTs from design to +12-year follow-up.
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Physical Activity and Metabolism Core
Including both the Laboratory for Active Kids and Families — one of only a few dedicated pediatric exercise physiology labs in the nation — and a fully outfitted fitness facility
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Biostatistics and Data Innovation Core
Dedicated, in-house space and staff to support statistical, analytical and bioinformatics needs, including statistical analysis and visualization of –omics based data
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Metabolomics and Analytical Chemistry Core
Dedicated to chemical processing and analysis of metabolite profiles (targeted and untargeted) in a variety of human and animal samples
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Rodent Metabolic and Behavioral Phenotyping Vivarium Core
Utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance and dual x-ray absorptiometry to assess body composition, the vivarium is also equipped with two state-of-the-art Promethion Systems
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Histology and Bioimaging Core
All the necessary facilities to conduct histochemical and immunohistochemical analysis, in situ hybridization, imaging/microscopy with a full-time certified histotechncian
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Brain Research Cores
With both the Budding Brains and Brain Imaging Labs to examine structural and functional development in children using advanced, non-invasive neuroimaging methods.
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