2022-2023 Annual Report

Letter from the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation Interim President and CEO

André J. Greene, CPA

Every year, when I take the time to reflect on the events of the past fiscal year and consider which stories to share with you, I encounter the same problem - there are just too many exciting stories to share. While that is the best kind of problem to have, our Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation team struggles to figure out the best way to share all the work that is happening here on our campus in a meaningful and succinct way. The breadth and depth of the work our scientists are doing improve lives for people of all ages “from cells to society” is amazing and touches on many different aspects.

We have tried our best to bring you as many stories as possible in the briefest possible way in hopes of conveying the true breadth and scope of Pennington Biomedical, while also demonstrating the impact philanthropy has on our success.

If any of these stories pique your interest or you would like more information to find out how you can get involved, please get in touch! We are always happy to share more information about what goes on here and would love to include you in one of our upcoming events which feature our scientists and campus tours.

As you look through this impact report, please know YOU are making these stories possible. Thank you!

Sincerely,

André J. Greene, CPA

The 2022 – 2023 fiscal year welcomed many new faculty and staff to Pennington Biomedical Research Center, all who have already contributed to our mission in many ways, enriching our ability to provide new solutions to chronic diseases.

The State of Louisiana continues to be a supportive partner. We are especially grateful to Governor John Bel Edwards, Senate President Page Cortez, and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, a trio of leaders supportive of Pennington Biomedical throughout their terms of office, and other legislators who have continued to invest in Pennington Biomedical Research Center. The recent additional $4 million state investment for faculty recruitment and retention, which will help counter Louisiana’s “brain drain,” follows last year’s $5 million investment for Greaux Healthy, our statewide childhood obesity prevention and treatment program we recently launched. The Governor and legislators understand that these state investments enable Pennington Biomedical to attract research talent and revenue to Louisiana. Pennington Biomedical is a good investment – according to the latest research, we have an estimated economic output of $137 million.

We continue to fulfill our mission by providing new solutions to chronic diseases. This year, we demonstrated that prescriptions for physical activity improve cancer survival; early time restricted eating can be an effective weight loss strategy; potatoes can be part of a healthy diet; and that bariatric surgery shows long-term success over standard diabetes treatment. LSU President Tate’s Scholarship Agenda includes working to improve the state’s health outcomes head-on, and we are doing just that.

Over the last year, we have also been able to increase our cache of postdoctoral researchers.

The creation of the Claude Bouchard-Monique Chagnon Fund to support postdoctoral fellows will

be extremely important to enhancing the postdoctoral researchers’ experience at the Center.

On a lighter note, I had the chance to represent Baton Rouge and Pennington Biomedical in the 2023 Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA last year. It was a wonderful experience to be part of the Louisiana team participating in the storied parade.

I would like to thank Monica Zumo for her steadfast guidance as Chair of the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation over the past two years and look forward to working with the Board’s new Chair, George Nelson, as we continue to build on our achievements and advance our efforts to help everyone live a longer, healthier life.

Sincerely,

John Kirwan, PhD

Generous Sponsors Allow Pennington Biomedical to Translate Expertise into Programs that Benefit Our Community Wellness Day for Women

600 female participants

Our generous sponsors provided the following free health screenings:

50 mammograms

159 EKGs

167 Stroke Assessments

Event sponsored by: Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana; Peoples Health; Mary Bird Perkins; Baton Rouge Cardiology Center; and Woman’s Hospital

Senior Black American Health Fair

200 senior Black participants

We are grateful for our sponsors who provided the following free health screens:

70 diabetes screens

70 blood pressure screens

70 cognitive function tests

Event sponsored by: Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana; and Aetna Medicare Solutions

The Rolling Store

585 participants from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Participants received:

Cooking demonstration and shared meal spotlighting lean proteins, fruits and vegetables

360 boxes of fresh, healthy food donated to families in need

109 individuals screened for diabetes

After the event, 99% of participants said they felt more confident with making healthier food purchases and dietary choices in the future.

98% of participants reported they planned to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat and serve to their family.

Thank you to Capital Area United Way for making all of this happen!

Foundation Ensures Pennington

Biomedical’s Continued Competitiveness through the Gift of Cutting-Edge Technology

Basic Science Research Labs Acquire Flagship Technology, Secure Status as National Hub for Bioenergetics and Mitochondrial Analysis

A generous gift in December, 2022 made possible the purchase of special equipment for the research of mitochondria (the “powerhouse of cells”) and their role in obesity, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, PCOS, fibrosis, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and sleep disorders, all areas of study at Pennington Biomedical. The Genomics Core also benefited from an upgraded DNA and RNA sequencing system that provides the researchers with more speed, depth and accuracy for gene analysis and additional technology that is the gold standard methodology for measuring gene expression.

Retired Surgeon Creates Endowed Lectureship to Leverage PB Resources to Benefit Obesity Healthcare

As a retired cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, Dr. Gene Berry understands how necessary it is for the frontline healthcare professionals fighting the obesity epidemic to keep up with the latest medical advances. As a former board member of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, he understood how philanthropy could help.

“I am passionate about the need to fight obesity using the latest evidence-based practices and treatments available,” said Dr. Berry. “Pennington Biomedical is where this gift will have the greatest impact. Executive Director Dr. John Kirwan has created the right environment and built an amazing metabolic research and surgical team with the addition of Dr. Philip Schauer,” said Dr. Berry.

His generous gift creates the Dr. B. Eugene Berry Endowed Lectureship Fund and will provide Pennington Biomedical with resources to annually convene prominent scientists, healthcare practitioners, and researchers to explore obesity, nutrition, and related topics and how new discoveries can be applied to clinical practice.

Leaving a Legacy for the Future

In 1980, C.B. “Doc” Pennington aspired to make the world a better place. His vision: to build the "the biggest and best nutrition research center in the country." His vision became a reality when he donated a legacy gift of $125 million. Today, his vision and legacy permeate every aspect of Pennington Biomedical’s 222-acre campus that houses 800,000 square-feet of state-of-the-art laboratories, clinics, conference facilities and office space.

Pennington Biomedical continues to be shaped by the leaders and philanthropists who leave their own indelible footprint on the campus.

In May of 2023, former executive director Dr. Claude Bouchard and his wife, Monique Chagnon, announced that they were pledging $1 million to create the endowed Claude Bouchard-Monique Chagnon Fund to support postdoctoral fellows in basic science research and in clinical and public health and population science. The funds generated from the endowment will be used to enhance postdoctoral researchers’ experiences at Pennington Biomedical.

“Postdoctoral fellows are critical to the success of the scientific research enterprise. They work hard, they master the latest technologies, they are eager to succeed and passionate about science. One could argue that they are the actual driver of research in a laboratory. They are not passive recipients; they challenge their mentors and everyone becomes wiser in the process. They are elite scholars who have emerged from years of education,” said Dr. Bouchard, formerly the John W. Barton, Sr. Endowed Chair in Genetics and Nutrition and LSU Boyd Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Bouchard and Ms. Chagnon hope that their gift represents only the launch of the fund and that others

who understand the value that postdoctoral fellows bring to science, specifically to the mission of Pennington Biomedical and Baton Rouge, will contribute over time to further enhance the fund.

Their generosity builds on the legacies that many others have left (for a list of Pennington Biomedical’s Legacy Donors, see page 18) Each of these gifts were made in ways that had very little impact on the donor at the time they pledged their gift, but will have a lasting impact on Pennington Biomedical for generations to come.

Local life insurance agent and estate planner Frank McArthur, who also served on Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation’s board of directors and continues to serve as a vital volunteer and ambassador, has long championed planned giving as a powerful way for anyone to make a difference. He has spent 50 years advising people on how best to maximize their assets in ways that reflect their values.

“Anyone can leave a legacy,” said McArthur. “You don’t have to be wealthy to be a philanthropist. We should all leave something behind.”

Ms. Chagnon agrees. “We are not wealthy people, but have been lucky and successful enough in our careers to make such an investment in the future of Pennington Biomedical," she said.

“We prefer to give back to institutions and places where we lived and had great professional and life experiences,” added Dr. Bouchard.

McArthur founded Leave A Legacy in Baton Rouge, and noted there are multiple ways to make a deferred gift, including his and his wife’s own legacy gift to Pennington Biomedical.

“A deferred gift to support Pennington Biomedical can be as simple as naming Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation as the beneficiary of your life insurance,” McArthur said. “Other deferred gifts include including the charity of choice in a will, charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities. All of these have different tax benefits and those interested in determining what works best for them should talk to their estate planner or tax attorney.”

Bouchard and Chagnon earlier this year in North Carolina

Philanthropy Builds the Foundation for Future Investment

Imagine waking up and no longer craving a sweet chocolate brownie or salty chips. That is the experience of many patients after undergoing bariatric surgery. Patients commonly report tasting food differently and no longer having cravings in the days after their surgery. Vance L. Albaugh, MD, PhD, assistant professor of metabolic surgery at Pennington Biomedical, suspects this common patient scenario might be the ultimate clue to finally understanding why bariatric surgery is the most effective weight loss treatment.

“Metabolic and bariatric surgery is far more effective for weight loss and even other diseases like diabetes, especially over the long-term, compared to anti-obesity drugs, diets, and exercise,” said Albaugh. “The crazy thing is that even though bariatric surgery dates back to the 1950s, we still don’t know why it is so effective.”

Albaugh said that once scientists discover why the surgery works so well, that knowledge can be used to develop new, hopefully less invasive, treatments for obesity, diabetes, and other related diseases – all possibly leading to a cure.

He suspects that somehow the surgery itself dramatically changes the way the gut and brain communicate with each other.

“The gut-brain relationship and mechanisms of bariatric surgery represent a huge gap in scientific knowledge that needs to be addressed,” he said. “A lot of significant research has been done in the laboratory; however, a common theme is that these

mechanisms are exceedingly challenging to study in patients, but they are studies that are desperately needed to improve medical care.”

Albaugh wants to better understand how different nutrients in the intestine are sensed within the brain, not only in healthy individuals, but also in patients who have lost weight through diet and exercise, as well as after bariatric surgery. This research is so novel that he needs to collect preliminary evidence demonstrating that he is on the right path before he can successfully apply to the National Institutes of Health or other federal agencies for funding to prove his hypothesis.

Albaugh’s story – not having quite enough proof to obtain federal funding – is not unique and illustrates the power of philanthropy.

Local philanthropist Charlie Lamar has been a passionate supporter of Pennington Biomedical for more than two decades and was intrigued by Albaugh’s work and his theories.

“I’ve been following and supporting Dr. Philip Schauer and his initiatives with bariatric surgery. I love what Vance is doing and I hope it bears fruit. Private support is absolutely necessary to advance science because young scientists with big and bold dreams face a long road before they can obtain National Institutes of Health funding to support their research,” Lamar said.

Lamar, who has served on Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation’s board of directors since 2016 and is now the incoming chairman, added that he is particularly excited about Pennington Biomedical’s overall program in metabolic surgery and research.

“I want to be part of the support system for this program and encourage and reward Pennington Biomedical for being daring and adventurous,” he said. “This is basic research -- it is not limited by what we think might happen, like the development of a new drug for weight loss. This work will increase our knowledge of how the body works and the gut-brain connection. The more Vance can establish precisely what part of the intestines

are handling the signaling, the more this research can lead to all kinds of treatments, including IBD, for example.”

The advent of the most recent anti-obesity medications has drawn increased interest from the National Institutes of Health in Albaugh’s line of research.

“Leading scientists and physicians worldwide are excited about these new weight loss medications, but there is significant concern regarding the number of individuals being placed on these antiobesity medications for life, especially children and young adults. It is of critical importance to the National Institutes of Health and other medical agencies that we develop a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of these drugs. Only with that knowledge in place can we then understand and monitor for potential long-term side effects and other possible issues with these medications,” Albaugh said.

Both Albaugh and Lamar are excited about the possibilities.

“I remember when ‘Doc’ made his gift that built Pennington Biomedical,” Lamar said. “Pennington Biomedical is a hidden gem: a freestanding research facility operating in Baton Rouge. As a citizen of Baton Rouge, I understand the value of Pennington Biomedical. As a global citizen, I want Pennington Biomedical to be more widely recognized by the general public and by anyone, anywhere who is interested in nutrition and health.”

“No other research groups in the world have done these types of studies,” Albaugh said. “Pennington Biomedical is uniquely positioned to tackle this line of research because we have access to the right expertise, the right equipment and resources, and the right patient population – all on one close-knit campus.”

Lights, Camera, Action: HollywoodThemed Fundraiser is a Smashing Success!

We hope to see everyone at the 2024 event, scheduled for March 22, 2024!

Over 175 people attended at The Answer which raised funds to support the groundbreaking science taking place at Pennington Biomedical. This event combined a competitive night of trivia, all played out to this year’s theme of “Hollywood.” Supporters dressed up as movie stars on the red carpet or their favorite movie character. The competition did not end with trivia – awards were presented for best table décor and best dressed! The night ended with more competition for amazing auction items, including trips to Nashville and Ocean Springs, dinner for 12, an LSU baseball experience, beautiful jewelry, custom clothing, fine art, the best of Baton Rouge cultural activities, and a professional photography session.

“This event wouldn’t be possible without our loyal and dedicated sponsors,” said André Greene, Interim President and CEO of Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation. “Everyone who came out to support us is a partner in helping us to reduce and eliminate chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, dementia, and cancer.”

An event committee worked tirelessly behind the scenes for months to make the event successful. The Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation team wishes to recognize the committee and express their gratitude to Paula Pennington de la Bretonne, Todd Henry, Beverly Heymsfield, April Kirwan, Tessa Mahler, and Diane Tate.

The Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Family Foundation won best table décor:

Baton Rouge General Won the Trivia Contest

Science, Not Shame

Center’s Work Dispels Obesity Myths

One in three adults and children in Louisiana has obesity, a condition linked to several other diseases, including Type 2 diabetes and many forms of cancer. Researchers at Pennington Biomedical are studying how factors like brain chemistry, maternal nutrition, and complex socio-economic factors interact to impact obesity. Their results are helping to dispel many myths that surround this disease.

“It’s a misunderstanding that obesity is just an issue of willpower,” said Dr. Chris Morrison, Associate Executive Director of Basic Science. “Our work clearly shows that many of our food choices are not necessarily under conscious control, but are instead regulated by internal physiological systems that we are largely unaware of.”

Morrison’s research looks at how the brain controls food intake. Specifically, he and his team study how the hormone FGF21 helps the body regulate protein intake and adjust metabolism. Understanding how the hormone works could lead to harnessing its therapeutic potential for patients with obesity.

Dr. Leanne M. Redman, Associate Executive Director for Scientific Education, is tackling the problem from another angle, examining how a person’s predisposition for obesity, high blood pressure and Type 2

diabetes stems further back than their time in the womb. “It goes all the way back to conception and to fetal development,” Redman said. “And it goes back two generations.” Redman and her team look at the various triggers during conception and throughout pregnancy and early life that can impact someone’s future risk for certain chronic diseases. “We are working on how to ‘lock arms’ with moms to teach them about nutrition and health at this most vulnerable time in their baby’s life,” she said.

A multitude of socio-economic factors also impact rates of obesity, said Associate Professor Dr. Stephanie Broyles, who studies health and the built environment. “Where we live either creates a lot of opportunities for healthy behaviors or

creates barriers,” Broyles said. Access to safe parks encourages families to stay active, for example, while factors like long commutes or high crime rates have the opposite effect.

The Center enlists community volunteers to enroll in health research studies. If you are interested in participating in a study, you can call (225) 763-3000 to talk with someone to find a study that is right for you or screen yourself online at Pennington Biomedical Research Center (pbrc. edu).

Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation Annual Report

Council of 100

The Council of 100 designates those individuals and organizations who through their giving and active involvement demonstrate the highest commitment to Pennington Biomedical.

Anonymous

American Council on Exercise

Amway Global Procurement

Annette D. Barton

Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Dr. Gene Berry

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation

Claude Bouchard and Monique Chagnon

Marilyn and George A. Bray, MD

H. Douglas Braymer, PhD

Marilyn Braymer

Mary Kay and J. Terrell Brown

Capital Area United Way

The Carter Chapman Shreve Family Foundation

Catherine Champagne, PhD, RDN

Beverly Coates

Kevin and Monica Courville

Cox Communications

Dr. and Mrs. Jacques A. de la Bretonne

Edward G. Schlieder Educational Foundation

John and Marty Engquist

Entergy

Art E. Favre

Leroy and Fran Harvey

Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation

The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation

The John W. Barton Family Foundation

J. Gerard and Donna Jolly

Kevin and Debbie Knobloch

Dr. Iris Krupp

Lamar Advertising Company

Charles and Carole Lamar

Madison Lamar

Gordon “Skeet” and Teri LeBlanc

Susan and Richard Lipsey

Louisiana Charities Trust

Louisiana Public Facilities Authority

Pat Lyle

Frank and Kathy McArthur

Medtronic

Melior Discovery, Inc.

Dr. Gerald P. Miletello and Dr. Melinda M. Prevost

Virginia B. and John B. Noland

Gary and Claudia Phillips

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin P. Reilly, Jr.

Jennifer Eplett and Sean E. Reilly

Dr. Jennifer C. Rood and Mr. Michael Rood

Donna H. Ryan, MD and Edwin Lupberger

Sable Systems International

Phil and Patricia Schauer

Chuck and Pam Schwing

Mrs. Joseph S. Simmons

Josef Sternberg Memorial Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Moo and Martin Svendson

The Family of William Entemann

Roland and Kay Toups

John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer

Mr. Charles L. Valluzzo

WHLC Architecture

Ann Wilkinson

Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is made up of community leaders who dedicate their time and insight to ensure Pennington Biomedical’s continued success:

Officers

George D. Nelson, Jr., Louisiana Companies, Chair

Monica Zumo, Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP, Immediate Past-Chair

Charles Lamar, Investor/Philanthropist, Vice-Chair

Janet Olson, Lamar Advertising (retired), Treasurer

Annette D. Barton, Community Leader/Philanthropist, Secretary

Directors

Marvin Borgmeyer, Exxon Mobil (retired)

J.S. Brown III, Bruce Foods Corporation

Paula Pennington de la Bretonne, Community Leader/Philanthropist

Art Favre, Performance Contractors

Fran Harvey, Louisiana Remote Sensing and GIS Institute

Veneeth Iyengar, State of Louisiana

Chris Haskew, Capital One

C. Kris Kirkpatrick, Long Law Firm

Claude B. Pennington III, Investor/Philanthropist

Daryl B. Pennington, Sr., Investor/Philanthropist

Christel Slaughter, PhD, SSA Consultants

John Spain, Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Ann Wilkinson, Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation (retired)

Ex-Officio Directors

Sharon Weston Broome, Mayor-President, East Baton Rouge Parish

André J. Greene, CPA, Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation

John P. Kirwan, PhD, Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Adam Knapp, Baton Rouge Area Chamber

William Tate IV, PhD, LSU President

Mary Werner, LSU Board of Supervisors Representative

The Legacy Society

The Legacy Society represents those who have made a planned gift to Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation or have notified us of their intention to do so. Planned gifts are a meaningful way to impact the future of Pennington Biomedical.

Annette D. Barton

Claude Bouchard and Monique Chagnon

*Mrs. Jane T. Boyce

H. Douglas Braymer, PhD

Marilyn Braymer

*Robert R. Casey

Catherine Champagne, PhD, RDN

*Ms. Camille Coates

*Dudley and Beverly Coates

*Rubye Lee Engquist

*Isaac M. Gregorie, Sr. and Betty H. Phelps

*Dr. William Hansel

*Ms. Jerry Hornsby

J. Gerard and Donna Jolly

Beverly Carson Jones

Kevin and Debbie Knobloch

Dr. Iris Krupp

Frank and Kathy McArthur

*Margaret C. Moore

Virginia B. and John B. Noland

*Gretchen P. Pressburg

*Norma Jean Raiford

Dr. Jennifer C. Rood and Mr. Michael Rood

*Charlotte M. Thompson

Ann Wilkinson

Partner with Us to Find Solutions!

All gifts to the Foundation are tax deductible, and many qualify for Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF)

Priority Points. To receive your priority points, please include your TAF ID number with your gift. Foundation staff can assist with establishing an account for donors who wish to join the program. Geaux Tigers!

Ways to Donate

Online go to pbrf.org/giving/

Phone Call Corinna Carver at (225) 763-3081

Mail Mail your donation to:

Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation 6400 Perkins Road Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808

Stocks and Securities

Donations of stock and other securities can be a tax-efficient way to make a meaningful gift to Pennington Biomedical. To make a gift of stock or securities, please contact André Greene in advance of the transfer at 225-763-2684 or by email at Andre.Greene@pbrf.org for our current account information.

Donor Advised Fund

If you have a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) through an organization like Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, or Vanguard Charitable, or a community foundation like the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, you can advance our mission by making a grant recommendation to Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation from your DAF.

Wire Transfer

To make a gift via wire transfer, please contact André Greene in advance of the transfer at 225763-2684 or by email at Andre.Greene@pbrf.org for our current account information.

Legacy Donation through Planned and Estate Gifts

Planned and estate gifts allow you to leave a

meaningful legacy that will benefit Pennington Biomedical. The most common type of planned gift is a charitable bequest in a person’s will or trust. Other vehicles for legacy gifts include beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and gifts of life insurance. You can request sample bequest language needed for inclusion in your estate planning documents and additional information by contacting André Greene at 225-763-2684 or by email at Andre.Greene@pbrf.org.

Double Your Impact!

Many companies offer a matching gifts program, even for retirees and board members. Matching gifts will be directed to the same program or purpose identified with your personal gift. Please contact Corinna Carver at (225) 763-3081 or by email at Corinna.Carver@pbrf.org to let us know to expect a matching gift so that we may direct it appropriately upon receipt. Alternatively, simply complete your corporate matching gift form and mail it along with your initial donation to allow us to process your request.

You can turn your gift into a tribute to honor a milestone or memorialize a life well lived. Let us know who you would like to honor or memorialize with your donation and the person you designate will be notified that a gift was made in their honor or in memory of their loved one.

You should always consult with your financial advisor and/or tax professional before initiating a charitable gift arrangement.

The information provided on this page should not be construed as tax or financial advice.