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STRIDE Seed Funding Projects Awarded

Fall 2016

 

 

STRIDE awarded its annual seed funding to three Cal Poly researchers for pilot projects related to obesity research and the Center’s mission. Alison Ventura, a kinesiology professor; Rodrigo Manjarín, an animal science professor; and Adrienne Greve, a professor in the City and Regional Planning Department, are the recipients of STRIDE’s 2016-17 annual $5,000 seed funding awards. STRIDE initiated the award three years ago to provide faculty with funding to produce work leading to an external research grant proposal. 

Below is a summary of each of the projects. Researchers will also present their work at a small symposium at the end of the year.

 

 

Alison Ventura, “Does mother’s nipple size and anatomy predict early breastfeeding problems?”

Ventura and co-collaborators will explore associations between nipple anatomy and breastfeeding problems with the goal of informing future breastfeeding research and support strategies. In her application Ventura wrote, “Promotion of breastfeeding is a major public health priority given the numerous benefits of breastfeeding for infants and mothers.” Although scientists have researched social barriers to breastfeeding, this study will explore anatomy, an area that has received less attention in breastfeeding research.

 

 

Rodrigo Manjarín, “Effect of fructose-containing sugars in pediatric obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)”

Manjarín and his collaborators are studying the long-term effects of fructose intake among adolescents and whether the average doses consumed by youth promote non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obesity. To test this hypothesis, they will assign three diets to 24 leptin-resistant Iberian pigs with increasing levels of fructose over a 12 week-period. Biopsies from liver and muscle and a proteomic analysis will be performed to assess fat accumulation and expression of genes and proteins involved in de novo lipogenic pathways.

 

 

Adrienne Greve, “Green-Complete Streets: Measuring outcomes beyond water quality transportation”

 

Greve is investigating a new policy area that has not been studied in California. California now mandates implementation of both complete streets and green storm water infrastructure. Together these two requirements have led to a new focus on what is being called green-complete streets. Greve will assess and quantify outcomes of green-complete streets such as public health, crime, safety and economic development.

 

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