DISCOVER
Research that matters from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
Research within the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences impacts all our lives. With expertise in agriculture and the environment, data and technology, family and communities, and health and wellness, our reach is both broad and deep. Uniting us is a deep commitment to solving real-world problems affecting Central Illinois, the United States, and the globe.
Here, we highlight a fraction of our world-class research in the area of health and wellness, revealing impactful new finding in the areas of insulin production, heart health, patient education, and Black Americans’ mental health.
MILK TO THE RESCUE FOR DIABETICS?
In an exciting proof-of-concept study, ACES researchers and Brazilian collaborators created a transgenic cow capable of producing human insulin in her milk. The advancement could herald a new era in insulin production, one day eliminating drug scarcity and high costs for people living with diabetes. After the researchers inserted a segment of human DNA into cow embryo nuclei, a single transgenic calf was born. When the research team later induced lactation, the cow produced human proinsulin — an insulin precursor — and insulin at highly promising rates. The researchers envision a 100-head herd one day providing all the insulin needed for the country. System refinement and FDA approval would be needed before transgenic cows could supply insulin for the world’s diabetics, but the team is confident that day is coming.
Thanks to transgenic cattle, a 100head herd could one day produce the country’s supply of insulin
New research shows a common hair loss and prostate drug could protect heart health
COMMON HAIR LOSS AND PROSTATE DRUG MAY ALSO CUT HEART DISEASE
The drug finasteride, also known as Propecia or Proscar, treats male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate in millions of men worldwide. But ACES researchers found the drug may also provide a surprising and life-saving benefit: lowering cholesterol and cutting the overall risk of cardiovascular disease. Their study found significant correlations between finasteride use and lower cholesterol levels in men taking part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2009 and 2016. And in mice taking high finasteride doses, the researchers found reductions in total plasma cholesterol, delayed atherosclerosis progression, lower inflammation in the liver, and related benefits. The next step is for physicians to start tracking cholesterol in finasteride patients or conduct a clinical trial to verify the effect.
DISCOVER : Agriculture & Environment
COMMUNITY STRESS AFFECTS BLACK AMERICANS’ MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Residential segregation is an example of the long history of structural racism in the U.S. Black Americans are more likely to live in low-quality neighborhoods, which contributes to disparities in health outcomes. ACES researchers analyzed data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, a longitudinal study of health and aging that includes assessments of psychological and neighborhood factors. The study focused on Black Americans living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 2013-2015, analyzing objective neighborhood quality as well as mental-emotional health. As expected, the researchers found that people who reported greater perceived community stress had higher levels of negative emotions and lower levels of positive emotions. The research underscores the importance of a holistic perspective that considers the intersection of race and gender to better understand and create policies around the complex associations between neighborhood quality and wellbeing.
A pilot program will bring low-sodium cooking and shopping guidance to dialysis patients through virtual reality
FUNDING SOURCES
Poor neighborhood quality can take a toll on Black Americans’ mental health
VIRTUAL REALITY PROGRAM SHARES SHOPPING, COOKING ADVICE WITH DIALYSIS PATIENTS
For people whose kidneys don’t function properly, hemodialysis is a lifesaving process. Patients visit dialysis centers multiple times per week, getting hooked up to machines that filter impurities and excess fluid out of their blood. Between sessions, dietary choices — especially sodium intake — determine the amount of fluid patients accumulate, affecting weight gain and overall quality of life. Even with the best intentions, it’s not always easy to choose low-sodium foods. That’s why researchers in the Division of Nutritional Sciences in ACES have created a virtual reality program to educate dialysis patients on low-sodium shopping and cooking from the comfort of their treatment chairs. The VR program is a pilot to see how well dialysis patients in Champaign County respond to the material. If it’s a success, the program will be re-shot with professional actors and camera operators, with portions translated into Spanish, ahead of a wider launch.
Insulin Cows: The research was funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development; the University of Northern Parana, Brazil; and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Multistate Research Fund.
Matt Wheeler, Department of Animal Sciences
Contact: Matt Wheeler, mbwheele@illinois.edu
Finasteride: This research was supported in part by the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health [via grant no. HL147252], and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Jaume Amengual, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Contact: Jaume Amengual, jaume6@illinois.edu
Community Stress in Black Americans: This research used publicly available data from the MIDUS study, which is funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network and National Institute on Aging Grants
August Jenkins, Department of Human Development and Family Studies
Contact: August Jenkins, aj34@illinois.edu
VR Program for Diabetics: The project was funded through the Kidney Wellness Institute of Illinois in the Discovery Partners Institute, part of the University of Illinois System.
Kaitlyn Pawelczyk, Division of Nutritional Sciences
Contact: Kaitlyn Pawelczyk, kp39@illinois.edu
