The Harry M. Vars Award is given annually to promising researchers in the field of clinical nutrition based on their CNW Abstract. Presenters of the top-scoring abstracts, as determined by the Vars Review Committee, receive one of several awards, including travel grants and a $1,000 research grant.
This year’s Vars abstract presenters are listed below.
• Gail Cresci, PhD, RD, CNSD, LD, “A Probiotic and Butyrate Protect the Intestine During Antibiotic Therapy
• Yongjia Feng, MD, PhD, “Effects of Varying Intravenous Lipid Emulsions on Small Bowel Epithelium in a Mouse Model of Total Parenteral Nutrition”
• Praveen Goday, MBBS, CNSC, “Early Parenteral Nutrition Is Associated with Significantly Higher Mortality in Critically Ill Children”
• Edmond Huang, MS, “Composition of Dietary Fat Source Shapes Gut Microbiota Architecture and Alters Host Inflammatory Mediators in Mouse Adipose Tissue”
• Kelly Roehl, MS, “Predictors of Insulin Requirements Among Hospitalized Adults Receiving Parenteral Nutrition”
Here’s what some of this year’s candidates have to say about why you should make it a point to attend the Premier Paper Session and Live Vars Award Competition (Monday, Feb. 11, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., West Convention Center, 301AB).
“My research investigates potential beneficial interventions to counteract the negative effects of broad spectrum antibiotics on intestinal health,” says Gail Cresci. She encourages attendance at the Premier Papers Session for a number of reasons. “Be the first to hear about new and exciting research findings that could potentially be translated to your clinical practice. Attendees will learn of new research and links to human conditions for potentially improved therapies.” On being selected as a candidate, Cresci says that it is “definitely a career highlight” and “truly an honor”.
Praveen Goday’s presentation at the competition will “suggest that parenteral nutrition within the first 48 hours of admission may be detrimental to critically ill children.” Goday insists that “the most exciting and thought provoking papers at CNW are presented at the Premier Paper Session. Don’t miss it!”
Yongjia Feng’s presentation will be on alternative injectable lipid emulsions greatly affect TPN-associated EC apoptosis and proliferation through a modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine and growth factors. “The premier paper session bring new concepts and hot research to areas of the use of alternative intravenous lipids,” Feng says.
Candidate Kelly Roehl says that the research she conducted with her colleagues “is clinically relevant because the ability to anticipate hyperglycemia among patients receiving parenteral nutrition by examining factors predictive of the need for insulin may result in more timely administration of PN insulin, which may reduce complications associated with hyperglycemia.” Roehl is enthusiastic about having been selected as a candidate. “I never imagined that I would be a candidate for the prestigious Harry M. Vars Award! I am incredibly honored. This experience has helped me grow not only as a new researcher, but also a clinician. I am inspired to conduct further research and improve the field of nutrition support, as well as improve nutrition care at Rush University Medical Center.”
Edmund Huang’s research “seeks to identify functional differences in dietary fat components that alter commensal gut microbes in the regulation of adipose tissue inflammation.” Huang thinks “the Premier Paper Session is a great opportunity to highlight some of the mainstream topics in clinical nutrition research,” to which he adds, “You won’t want to miss it!”
The winner of the competition will be announced at the Rhoads Lecture and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday Feb. 12, 8:00-9:30 a.m in West Convention Center 301AB.
These and other A.S.P.E.N. awards are made possible by generous contributions from within the clinical nutrition community. To make a donation to the A.S.P.E.N. Rhoads Research Foundation in order to support the research of investigators, please visit the A.S.P.E.N. Bookstore in Phoenix or go online at https://co.clickandpledge.com/sp/d1/default.aspx?wid=32933.
