Research Highlights
Unraveling Adipose Tissue Dysfunction Due to Excessive Weight Using Three Research Approaches
A recent paper from the ACNC investigates how maternal weight and diet before and during pregnancy may have an impact on fat development and the metabolic health of her offspring. Postdoctoral Fellow Henry Paz and Assistant Professor Umesh Wankhade used data collected from multiple scientific research models: a cell culture model that examined fat cells […]
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ACNC Announces New Director
Dr. Colin Kay, Ph.D. joined the ACNC in 2023 as Professor of Developmental Nutrition in the Department of Pediatrics and served as Director of Precision Health Research, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) and Scientific Director of the Metabolomics and Analytical Chemistry Research Core. Prior to joining the ACNC, Kay served as Distinguished Professor in the Plants […]
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Exploring the Path of Dietary Bioactives
One study conducted by Dr. Colin Kay and colleagues examined how a class of bioactives found in blueberries are absorbed, metabolized, and excreted by our bodies after they are eaten. Investigators were particularly interested if processing the whole blueberries (i.e. food processing) would change how the bioactives were metabolized. Fresh blueberries were therefore compared to […]
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Kids Can Get Moving to Improve Balance
Balance is essential for children to develop motor skills, prevent falls, and effectively perform various daily activities. However, what influences balance in children is not well understood. To explore this, researchers at the ACNC measured balance, body composition, physical fitness, and daily physical activity in 219 school-aged children (ages 7-11). Balance was evaluated using a […]
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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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