Members of the Graduate Society of Nutritional Sciences took part in its annual Russell Klein Nutrition Research Symposium, held earlier this year.
Students at Ohio State are carrying on the legacy of the late Russell Klein, a professor in the college whose interdisciplinary research into the link between nutrition and cancer paved the way for innovative prevention strategies.
The students and scientists from across the country discussed groundbreaking developments in prevention and treatment at the 21st Annual Russell Klein Nutrition Research Symposium. The event was held recently at the university’s 4-H Center.
“I know that Russ would be so proud and excited to see the continued efforts and enthusiasm for future discovery in nutrition and cancer prevention research,” said Brenda Bixler, who was Klein’s wife until his passing in 2006.
Graduate students from the departments of Human Nutrition, Animal Science, and Food Science and Technology organize the symposium in Klein’s memory each year and present their research. Klein held dual appointments at Ohio State as an assistant professor in the Human Nutrition program in the College of Education and Human Ecology and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“Russ was very passionate about teaching and passing on his enthusiasm for learning to his students,” Bixler said. “He encouraged them to strive for excellence and integrity within their work and loved celebrating the progress and discoveries they made.”
Graduate students gain experience preparing and presenting their research
Students who presented research during the symposium included Ashley Kennedy, a registered dietitian nutritionist and PhD candidate in the interdisciplinary PhD program. She spoke about the difficulty that some patients who are undergoing treatment for head and neck cancers have with digesting solid food.
Undereating can cause patients to be deprived of nutrients such as carotenoids that come from fruits and vegetables.
“Weight loss and malnutrition are significant during rigorous modern head and neck cancer therapy,” she said. “This is of importance because lower carotenoid intake and head and neck cancer may impact treatment … as well as pose survivorship issues such as cognitive impairment, which requires further study.”
Katie Zamary, a master’s degree student in the college’s Human Nutrition program, presented research on nutrition’s effect on cognitive function in patients who are undergoing breast cancer treatments.
“Various dietary components have been investigated for their potential to mitigate cognitive decline,” Zamary said. “High dietary fiber has been associated with better cognitive function.”
Bixler and her and Klein’s daughter, Lindsey Sadowski, announced the winners of the Russell Klein Memorial Award:
- Maria Antonius, a master’s degree student whose research examines the effect of diet on fatty liver disease
- Jillian Pierson, a PhD student whose research centers on the effect of glucose consumption on inflammation in the body
In addition, students who presented research during the symposium received first-, second- and third-place awards in categories based on their fields of study. The winning presentations were selected by a panel of judges that consisted of faculty from various departments.
The winners of the symposium, their award categories and majors are:
Oral presentation competition winners:
- Ashley Kennedy, Human Nutrition
- Katie Zamary, Human Nutrition
Russell Klein Memorial Award PhD winners:
- First place: Jillian Pierson, Human Nutrition
- Second place: Maria Antonius, Human Nutrition
Molecular and Basic poster presentation winners:
- First place: Naa Komey, Human Nutrition
- Second place: Dorsin Chang, Human Nutrition
- Third place: Veeramani Karuppuchamy, Food Science and Technology
Clinical Science poster presentation winners:
- First place: Timothy Winschel, Human Nutrition
- Second place: Maryan Dualle, Human Nutrition
- Third place: Alicyn Dickman, Human Nutrition
Population Science poster presentation winners:
- First place: Cuthbert Mario Mahenge, Public Health alumnus
- Second place: Amy Kless, Public Health
- Third place: Janaki Dave, Human Nutrition
Capstone poster presentation winners:
- First place: Denise Elshoff, Dietetics and Nutrition
- Second place: Anna O. Kelley, Dietetics and Nutrition
- Third place: Sarah Makepeace, Dietetics and Nutrition
The symposium was presented by the Ohio State Graduate Society of Nutritional Sciences, which is advised by Ouliana Ziouzenkova, professor of human nutrition.
It was co-presented by the College of Education and Human Ecology’s Human Nutrition program, the university’s Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Nutrition and the Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.
