THE IMO N. BROWN MEMORIAL FUND
UPDATE ON GRANT UPDATE ON GRANT INVESTMENT INVESTMENT
AUGUST
RECOGNIZING THE IMO N. RECOGNIZING THE IMO N. BROWN MEMORIAL BROWN MEMORIAL FUND’S IMPACT FUND’S IMPACT
The Imo N. Brown Memorial Fund’s investment, leveraged to secure additional philanthropic support, provided resources during Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation’s 2023-2024 fiscal year to fuel groundbreaking research, outreach, and community impactthatdrovesciencefurther,faster.
IMPACT STORIES
WELLNESSDAYFORWOMEN
Wellness Day for Women drew 600 participants who received 2,265 free health screenings such as mammograms, glucose, EKGs, and cancer screenings, as well as educational seminars and a fun walk.
600 Participants 2,265
Free Health Screenings
SENIORBLACKAMERICANHEALTHFAIR
The Senior Black American Health Fair brought together more than 300 African American seniors who received nearly 500 free physical and memory screenings and access to more than 30 vendors serving the senior 500
Free Physical and Memory Screenings
200 men attended the Men’s Health Summit where they received free health screenings, including blood pressure, blood glucose, colorectal cancer kits and other cancer screenings, electrocardiograms (EKG), heart health risk assessments, and total lipid panels. 200
Free Health Screenings
SUPPORTING MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS
Funding provided support to the work of Dr. Robert Newton, who is leading efforts in North Baton Rouge to improve children’s health. In partnership with Fathers on a Mission, Dr. Newton is hosting events that encourage African American fathers and their children to be physically active together, emphasizing sustainable and long-term activities that can be incorporated into their current lifestyles.
LEVERAGING SUPPORT TO RECRUIT LEADING SCIENTISTS
$1M $1M
TO RECRUIT A NEW TO RECRUIT A NEW ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO LEAD THE DIRECTOR TO LEAD THE CLINICAL SCIENCES CLINICAL SCIENCES
In the past year, we secured $1 million in funding to recruit a new Assistant Executive Director to lead the clinical sciences. Competition for the best available professors and researchers is traditionally keen in the sciences and health care fields. The additional support from philanthropic funding towards recruitment makes the difference in our ability to recruit a distinguished professor despite competition from other institutions and potential employers. This position will also be instrumental in expanding the scope and impact of our obesity medicine programs.
We also established a professorship to recruit and retain researchers working on dementia and other neurodegenerative diagnostics, treatments and cures. This gift comes with a different kind of return on investment: the potential to receive matching funds from the LSU Board of Regents to establish a total endowment of $100,000, multiplying the impact of the professorship on our ability to conduct cutting-edge dementia research, prevention, and treatment.
FUELING GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH
The Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation provided continued support for Dr. Vance Albaugh’s research into the relationship between the brain and the stomach. Cravings for unhealthy foods often cease once a patient undergoes bariatric surgery, but it remains unclear as to why this happens. Dr. Albaugh is investigating if the surgery is changing the way the brain communicates with the stomach. Unlocking this secret could improve weight loss without surgery and side-effect heavy drugs arealpossibility.
MAXIMIZING EQUIPMENT SUPPORT
Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation has provided key equipment support that have been utilized by our researchers to obtain significant federal grants. Employing donated equipment to produce high-quality preliminary data can bolster grant applications and proposals. Certain funding bodies mandate or favor matching contributions; equipment donations can fulfill this requirement, boosting the chances of obtaining further grants. Advanced equipment can also elevate an institution's prestige, drawing the interest of future donors and sponsors. Proving the effective use of donated equipment can foster trust among existing and potential funders, promoting ongoing and enhanced financial backing.
Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Christopher Morrison was gifted a 16-cage Promethium Respirometry System that has led to millions of dollars in federal grants, allowing him to expand his research on the identification of the hormone FGF21 in mice. This discovery is a crucial element in understanding human dietary decisions including food preferences, growth, and metabolism.
TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS
Postdoctoral fellows are critical to the success of the research enterprise and deepen our impact by training future generations of scientific leaders. Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation supports and enhances postdoctoral training and experience through the endowed Claude Bouchard-Monique Chagnon Fund. This supports postdoctoral fellows in basic science research, clinical and public health, and population science.
40 postdoctoral researchers have studied at the Bouchard Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical
ADDRESSING CHILDHOOD OBESITY
WITH DONOR SUPPORT
AMANDA E. STAIANO, PHD AMANDA E. STAIANO, PHD
Associate Professor Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior
Dr. Amanda Staiano is leading research to discover new and innovative methods to prevent childhood obesity including using gaming technology to increase exercise in children.
Focus Areas
Preschool-aged children
School-aged children
Exergaming
Family Weight Management Programs
Studies indicate that childhood obesity impacts not just physical health but mental well-being as well, potentially resulting in long-term health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and specific cancers. Therefore, investing in research to pinpoint successful prevention and intervention methods is crucial.
Pennington Biomedical is committed to reversing this trend through initiatives like Greaux Healthy, SUNRISE, and GameSquad, striving for a healthier future for upcoming generations.
We are the home of the ONLY lab in the world equipped to measure infant metabolism.
of children & adolescents with obesityrelated illnesses
$13.8M $13.8M 70% 70%
The Patient-Centered Outcomes
Research Institute grant to find the ideal “dose” of behavior interventions to treat childhood obesity in rural and minority communities in Louisiana and Tennessee
FINDING THE ANSWER TO ALZHEIMERS
WITH DONOR SUPPORT
Dr. Jeffrey Keller is leading Pennington Biomedical’s Institute for Dementia Research and Prevention’s research to slow or prevent the progressionofAlzheimer’s.
FocusAreas
Identify the most important risk factors for the developmentofdementia
Elucidate novel targets for the design of new therapeuticinterventions
JEFFREY N. KELLER, PHD
JEFFREY N. KELLER, PHD
Hibernia National Bank/Edward G. Schleider Endowed Chair Director, Institute for Dementia Research & Prevention
Professor Aging and Neurodegeneration
The Institute for Dementia Research and Prevention (IDRP) at Pennington BIomedical is establishing itself as a world leader in understanding the interactions between changes in mobility and the development of dementia by brings together multiple scientific disciplines within the clinical research arena in order to find novel ways of preventing, detecting, and managing dementia in theelderly.
Develop new test for more effective detection andmonitoringtheearlieststagesofdementia
We have We have conducted the conducted the largest brain- largest brainaging study in aging study in the nation. the nation.
THE POWER OF PHILANTHROPIC THE POWER OF PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT SUPPORT
Support from the Imo N. Brown Memorial Fund not only empowers our current projects but also opens up new avenues for supporting biomedical research. It has enabled us to provide our researchers with the necessary tools to explore innovative solutions and address some of the most pressing chronic diseases and health challenges of our time. Additionally, it helps us attract and retain toptier researchers and post-doctoral fellows, further strengthening our institution's capacity forscientificexcellence.
We deeply appreciate the generosity received from the Imo N. Brown Memorial Fund that has advanced biomedical research and improving human health. This support has made a profound impact and brings us one step closer to Pennington Biomedical’s ultimate goal of finding cures and improving treatments for chronic diseases. We are excited to share the progress and breakthroughs made possible by your grant and look forward to sharing future advancements.
Thank you to the Imo N. Brown Memorial Fund for the generous support and belief in our mission. Your partnership is vital, and we are incredibly grateful for the continued support from the Imo N. Brown Memorial Fund.
GET IN TOUCH
BRI BARRETT Chief Development Officer
Office: (225)763-3036 Email: bri.barrett@pbrf.org
