Martha Belury
The American Association for the Advancement of Science has gained an outstanding new Fellow in Martha Belury. Belury was recognized for her distinguished contributions to the field of human nutrition, particularly for elucidating cellular mechanisms of dietary compounds that influence metabolism, inflammation and carcinogenesis.
"As a scientist, I am deeply honored to be elected by my peers into the American Association for the Advancement of Science," said Belury. "As a fellow in AAAS, I hope my contributions to science will push discovery, innovation and inspiration to truly make the world a better place for the next generation."
Belury is the Carol S. Kennedy Professor of Human Nutrition in the College of Education and Human Ecology. She is also associate adjunct professor of endocrinology in the College of Medicine and adjunct professor of environmental health in the College of Public Health.
Ohio State had the most fellows elected among universities in 2011, with Belury one of 20 faculty members selected for AAAS fellowships.
Ohio State vice president for research Caroline Whitacre said, "This honor recognizes the research, scholarship and creativity of our faculty across disciplines who are improving our lives now and into the future."
Belury's general research interest is the role of dietary fat quality in modulating macronutrient metabolism, obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome (a combination of conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes) and cancer cachexia (loss of body fat and muscle mass in patients).
A recent study by Belury and her colleagues found that healthy young medical students who consumed fish oil supplements reduced both their inflammation and anxiety. The findings suggest that if young people can get such improvements from a specific dietary supplement, the elderly and people at high risk for certain diseases might benefit even more.
Belury serves on the editorial board for the American Oil Chemists' Society. She is the ad hoc reviewer for more than 20 peer-reviewed journals, including the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the American Journal of Physiology, Obesity and Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. She also serves as visiting professor at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan.
At Ohio State, Belury serves as a member of the Education and Human Ecology College Council, its Curriculum Committee, and the Human Nutrition Undergraduate Committee. She also is a member of the subcommittee for research at the Center for Women's Health in the College of Medicine.
Belury will be honored for her contributions to science and technology at the AAAS annual meeting on Feb. 18, 2012, in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition to a certificate, she will receive a blue and gold rosette as a symbol of her distinguished accomplishments to AAAS, the international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world.
