Annual Report 2021-2022

Letter from the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation President and CEO

One of the things I enjoy most about my work at Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation is learning about the fascinating research happening here on a daily basis. I have a curious mind and I am in awe of the relevant and impactful work being done here, and the passion of the faculty and staff is infectious.

When we say Pennington Biomedical’s world-class research benefits people throughout the lifespan, we really mean it – from targeting women before they get pregnant all the way to individuals living in their ‘sunset years’ – there is research taking place to make life healthier for all.

I need look no further than my own family to prove my point. At just two weeks old, my new baby made a contribution to science by participating in the Born2Burn Calories research study!

Pennington Biomedical is the only institution in the world studying how brown fat affects metabolism in infants. Unlike traditional white adipose tissue (traditional fat) which accumulates in excess during obesity, brown fat burns calories to produce heat. Most adults lose brown fat as we age, yet, adults with detectable brown fat are leaner and healthier. Babies have a lot of brown fat which helps regulate their body temperature since they cannot shiver and do not have a lot of white fat to act as insulation. Our scientists hypothesize that the amount of brown fat an infant has contributes to their energy expenditure,

Rebecca F. Schutte

which may be a determinant in the development of childhood obesity. For this study, my baby spent time in the infant metabolic chamber here at Pennington Biomedical – the only functional one in the world! – as well as in other state-of-theart equipment which accurately mapped her fat composition and caloric expenditure. Her older sister also made her contribution to science by taking part in SUNRISE, an international study on the physical activity, sleep, motor skills, and sedentary behaviors of preschoolers. The early years are the most critical period for developing important physical, motor, social, and cognitive skills, skills that influence school readiness and help lead to success later in life. Yet little is known about how much physical activity and sleep preschoolers get, if this varies by gender or where a child lives, and how their activity relates to their cognition or motor skills. Research conducted by Pennington Biomedical shows that less than 11 percent of the children in the Baton Rouge area meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for minimum daily movement behaviors. We are part of a massive data collection effort in 52 countries worldwide to understand how the behaviors outlined above are associated with child health and development, from their bodies to their brains.

These two studies are examples of the 58 clinical trials being conducted at Pennington Biomedical right now – a record number in our history – and more are in the pipeline. If you haven’t ever participated in a clinical trial at Pennington Biomedical, I highly recommend doing so! It is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the incredible and impactful science happening here every day. The current list of clinical trials can be found on the Pennington Biomedical website: https://www.pbrc.edu/research-trials/view-allcurrent.aspx.

Beyond our clinical trials, there are success stories here in every building and in every hallway. We have highlighted just a few recent stories on the following pages. None of these incredible stories could happen without your support. Your dedication to our mission matched with the passion of our faculty and staff makes this an institution we can all be very proud of. We hope to see you on campus sometime soon – come visit!

Sincerely,

Rebecca F. Schutte

My infant in the pea pod.

Letter from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center Executive Director

Turning a corner – that’s the phrase that comes to mind when I think about the past year at Pennington Biomedical.

Although COVID is still very much with us, we have turned the corner and are learning how to live with it. Chronic diseases are still also very much a part of our daily lives, but we have made some very exciting advances in finding new cures and treatments for diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cancer. I am optimistic about what the future holds.

The scientists who work at Pennington Biomedical are world-class and every year they are recognized across the globe for their contributions to science. Last year was no different. Dr. Eric Ravussin, Associate Executive Director for Clinical Science, received the American Society for Nutrition's George Bray Outstanding Scientific Achievements Award in Obesity Research for his lifetime of contributions to obesity research. Dr. Steven Heymsfield was named an Amazon Scholar and is developing digital health and wellness tools for Amazon Halo. Dr. Leanne Redman’s work and passion for mentoring was recognized with the Thomas A. Wadden Award for Distinguished Mentorship at Obesity Week, the annual meeting of The Obesity Society. Dr. Emily Flanagan, a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Redman’s Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory, was named an Emerging Leader by the American Society for Nutrition. Five Pennington Biomedical faculty and one adjunct professor rank among the most cited researchers in the world according to the Google Scholar Citations database. Drs. Claude Bouchard, Heymsfield, Ravussin, George Bray and Peter Katzmarzyk, as well as adjunct professor, Dr. Carl “Chip” Lavie, were all on this prestigious list.

Our research and clinical trials impact the health of citizens of Louisiana and indeed across the nation and all over the world. Last year, we undertook our first vaccination trial, testing Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in children. I had the good fortune of leading a successful Pennington Biomedical application to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to become one of 15 sites to study why some people are still sick months after being infected with COVID and how this affects the body (so called “long haulers”). Four of our researchers (Drs. Katzmarzyk, Corby Martin, Ravussin, and Jennifer Rood) were part of an international study that suggested human metabolism peaks much earlier and starts its inevitable decline later than was thought. The research findings were published in one of the most preeminent journals in all of science and featured in The New York Times. Drs. Ravussin and Redman received a new five-year, $8.6 million grant, Nutrition for Precision Health, to discover how to predict an individual’s response to a given diet, allowing physicians to offer patients personalized nutrition prescriptions to improve health and treat chronic diseases. I would like to acknowledge the many dedicated

John Kirwan, PhD, Executive Director Pennington Biomedical Research Center

faculty who spent the latter half of FY 2021-22 on our request to the NIH to renew funding for the LA CaTS Center. We were enormously pleased to learn that not only did NIH agree to fund us for five more years, but at $20 million, it represents the single largest NIH grant at Pennington Biomedical. More importantly, it means that together with our LA CaTS Center partners, we have significant resources to build a healthier Louisiana.

All this research continues to impact our own community. Pennington Biomedical partnered with the Louisiana Department of Education in September, National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, through Louisiana Fit Kids, to promote resources and tools that advocate for healthy growth and prevent obesity in children. We hosted a free webinar series for teachers, school administrators, guidance counselors, child nutrition program professionals, and other key stakeholders.

Metamor, formerly the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, moved into their new space in the Bioimaging Center in October and patients have provided enthusiastic feedback. Our monthly global webinar “Pennington Metabolic Surgery Grand Rounds,” continues to draw surgeons and scientists from all over the world. Dr. Phil Schauer continues to advocate for expanded access to bariatric surgery, including testifying in the legislature about the benefits of the surgery and extending insurance coverage for key treatment interventions that would benefit both individuals who have obesity, as well as the communities in which they live. Act 388 (Senate Bill 150) authored by Senator Regina Barrow was successfully enacted and requires that the Louisiana Office of Group Benefits cover bariatric surgery for the treatment of severe obesity. We also established a bariatric tissue repository and outcomes database to advance research which

will determine how bariatric surgery is so effective at reversing diseases like type 2 diabetes.

These efforts complement our Obecity, USA Campaign, which was launched to increase awareness that obesity is a disease. To date the campaign has generated over $17 million dollars in donated media and more than 1.5 billion people have seen or heard a public service announcement or interview or news segment on TV or radio, on billboards, in their social media feed, or visited our website.

I remain forever grateful for the ongoing support from Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, the Louisiana Legislature, the Louisiana Congressional Delegation, Louisiana Economic Development, LSU President William Tate, the LSU Board of Supervisors, and the Louisiana Board of Regents.

All of these accolades are only a fraction of what makes Pennington Biomedical so wonderful. When I think all the way back to the beginning of the fiscal year, Hurricane Ida kicked it off. Immediately following the storm, we instituted a center-wide “check-in” and relief effort. Despite most employees having no power at home, we quickly organized a donation drop-off and pick-up location on campus to get items to employees in need, coordinated help with tree and yard clean-up, and provided a laundry service. The Pennington Biomedical family spirit definitely showed through during this disastrous event!

Thank you for being a loyal partner in the important work we do. I look forward to sharing more exciting news throughout the year.

John Kirwan, PhD

Dr. George Bray: Setting the Stage for Future Success

Dr. George Bray was the Chief of Diabetes at the University of Southern California, one of the premier academic research institutions in the country, when he received a letter in 1987 asking about his interest in becoming Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s first Executive Director.

Unsure of how he should proceed, he asked his department chairman for advice. According to Dr. Bray, his chairman said, “’You have the lower floor of a four-floor building with about 10,000 square feet of research space devoted to your research activities. The entire two wings of the building you are currently in provide 80,000 square feet of research space. Pennington Biomedical is offering the new Executive Director the equivalent of three buildings the size of the one you occupy! Although I don’t usually recommend that my faculty pursue these offers, this one is so unusual that I think you

should pursue it!’”

In 1989, after multiple interviews with leaders from the LSU System and the Baton Rouge community, along with a tour of the building that, at the time, was “bereft of people,” and a friend telling him

“he would be crazy not to take it,” Dr. Bray left USC, the place he had assumed he would retire from, to come to a nearly empty building with very few employees and serve as the Center’s first Executive Director.

Pennington Biomedical was taking shape through private and public investments. The real cornerstone began with “Doc” and Irene Pennington’s $125 million gift – the largest ever made to a public university at the time. Doc was adamant that the gift be used for construction only, and that none of his funding be used to support operations.

Dr. George Bray, third from left, with Bill Silvia, Dr. Donna Ryan, and Dr. David York

Doc was equally adamant that the nutritional research center would be built in Baton Rouge. The main LSU campus did not have enough space for the buildings, so land on their agricultural farm about two miles away on rural Perkins Road became the home for Pennington Biomedical. Dr. Bray called this decision “propitious” because of the eventual emergence of the health district in the area that changed the entire region.

“Clearly, we also needed funding for equipment and people to meet Doc’s directive to build the biggest and best nutritional research facility in the nation. The Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, led by President Victor Bussie at the time, provided bridge funding prior to support

from the state. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation and then President John Davies also provided critical and significant support in the very beginning and their support has been steadfast, continuing through today. Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Congressman Richard Baker, and Congresswoman Lindy Boggs led the successful effort to procure a $9.4 million grant from the USDA to equip the first labs,” he said.

With funding in place, Dr. Bray said, “My initial challenge was convincing successful scientists with goals of academic excellence to come here and to secure grant funding.” The Pennington’s gift was “of great help” in meeting that recruiting challenge.

“I was also fortunate to be surrounded by excellent people, including Bill Silvia, Dr. David York, and Dr. Donna Ryan,” he said, who he described as key players in the development of Pennington Biomedical.

“We grew quickly,” he recalled. “I could promise people both space and money. We only hired people who could grow the institution. We started with younger researchers, but gradually we were able to recruit more senior and well-established researchers.

Today, Pennington Biomedical is full of outstanding researchers and scientists at every level of their career.”

During his tenure, Dr. Bray oversaw the growth of Pennington Biomedical from a handful of employees and a million-dollar budget to a flourishing research center with more than 70 scientists, 350 employees and an annual budget of nearly $20 million.

While he was accomplishing all of this on behalf of Pennington Biomedical, he continued to make major contributions to obesity research and practice. In 1993, he established the prestigious journal Obesity Research (now known as Obesity), and served as its editor-in-chief until 1997. He also founded the journal Endocrine Practice, serving as its editor-in-chief from 1995 to 1996.

In 1999, Dr. Bray was named an LSU Boyd Professor, the highest, most prestigious distinction awarded by the LSU Board of Supervisors to faculty members who attain national or international distinction for outstanding teaching, research, or other creative achievements.

He has also been consistently named as one of the world’s most cited scientists according to the Google Scholar Citations database, but is humble in explaining its significance.

always an inspiration to me in how persistence and a bit of luck can lead to a life of great reward. It was certainly a privilege to call him a friend.”

Today, Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center, holds the George A. Bray, Jr. Endowed Super Chair in Nutrition. “It’s an honor to hold the Bray Super Chair and to be able to continue his research and leadership legacy. I had the great fortune of being recruited to Pennington Biomedical when it was already a well-established world-class research institution. Its status is due in large part to Dr. Bray’s accomplishments as a scientist, leader, strategist, and visionary. Much of the success you see here today is a direct result of Dr. Bray’s pioneering work and leadership,” Dr. Kirwan said.

He has many fond memories of his time at Pennington Biomedical, so many that he can’t name one as his favorite. He said he enjoys watching Pennington Biomedical’s continued growth and how the Center’s growth reflects each subsequent executive director. He credits Dr. Claude Bouchard, the Center’s second Executive Director, with building out the basic science research program.

Reflecting on the philanthropist who made all of this possible, Dr. Bray said, “Mr. Pennington was

“It’s what you do. For science, the job is to do creative research and to do work that helps further science.”

“Doc” Pennington and Dr. Bray

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 (3)

Mr. and Mrs. Robin Arkley, II

Tim and Nan Barfield

Annette D. Barton

Baton Rouge Area Foundation

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

Ms. Marilyn Braymer

Mary Kay and J. Terrell Brown

Capital Area Finance Authority

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

Mr. and Mrs. Julio F. Dumas

Edward G. Schlieder Educational Foundation

John and Marty Engquist

Entergy

Art E. Favre

Cynthia Graves

Hancock Whitney Bank

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

Helen and Ben Johnson

J. Gerard and Donna Jolly

Ann Reiley Jones

Beverly Carson Jones

JPMorgan Chase Bank

Antoinette and Kenneth P. Kleinpeter, Jr.

Kevin and Debbie Knobloch

Dr. Iris Krupp

Lamar Advertising Company

Charles and Carole Lamar

Mr. Madison C. Lamar

Susan and Richard Lipsey

Louisiana CAT, LLC

Louisiana Charities Trust

Louisiana Public Facilities Authority

Kevin R. Lyle

*Don and Pat Lyle

Frank and Kathy McArthur

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

Virginia B. and John B. Noland

Gary and Claudia Phillips

Jennifer Eplett and Sean E. Reilly

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

Dr. Jennifer C. Rood and Mr. Michael Rood

Donna H. Ryan, MD and Edwin Lupberger

Chuck and Pam Schwing

Mrs. Joseph S. Simmons

Josef Sternberg Memorial Fund

Moo and Martin Svendson

Roland and Kay Toups

Turner Industries Group, L.L.C.

John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer

Mr. Charles L. Valluzzo

WHLC Architecture

Ann Wilkinson

Celebrating a 35-Year Partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense

Pennington Biomedical has been a champion of the U.S. military, putting its nutrition and health expertise to use for the benefit of U.S. soldiers and their families, since the day the center opened its doors.

This 35-year partnership has netted improvements in what troops are served during training and while in the field, a better understanding of solider energy and food requirements, a unique app for soldiers and their families to improve physical and mental health and resilience, and an overall better understanding of the role of nutrition, fitness, and sleep habits on soldier performance.

The U.S. military has provided Pennington Biomedical with more than $106 million in grant funding for studies on warfighter health. The partnership began with a single $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Army in 1988. Donna Ryan, MD, who served as an associate professor at the time and eventually served as interim director, was tasked with overseeing use of the funds. She is widely credited for the success of the first grant which led to the now decades-long partnership. Those initial funds were used to study military nutrition, energy expenditure in soldiers, healthier garrison menu options, and the effect of stress and diet on performance.

As time went on, the Department of Defense increasingly understood the great value in Pennington Biomedical’s work, and many new projects began taking shape.

Every day the U.S. military must feed more than one million active-duty soldiers in ways that keep them fit and ready for combat. How to feed soldiers is even more complicated for those serving in the field. Pennington Biomedical was part of the team that developed the First Strike® ration—a replacement for Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs)—to feed soldiers in the field. The development of the First Strike® ration – which has the look and feel of a protein bar—came from the fact that prior to deployment, soldiers would “field strip” their MREs. Field stripping involves removing all the excess MRE packaging and unwanted items – bags, boxes, heaters, extra spoons, and accessory pack. Creative field stripping could reduce three MREs – one day’s worth – down to the same size as a single MRE. While this practice reduced the soldier’s load by only packing the most critical MRE parts, it also led to increased waste and reduced nutrient intake. A single First Strike® ration, which is 24-hours worth of food, is approximately 50% the size and weight of three MREs. Each First Strike® ration contains an average of 2,900 calories, or 24 hours’ worth of nutrition for warfighters on the move.

“During a military operation, the average soldier burns through more than one-and-a-

half times the calories that the average American does each day,” Jennifer Rood, PhD, Associate Executive Director for Cores and Resources, said. “The problem is that under high-stress conditions and intense physical activity, soldiers typically sleep very little, and the sleep they get is frequently interrupted. The soldiers also consume far fewer calories than their bodies need.”

Additional research confirmed soldiers’ need for dietary protein during high activity military operations and the effectiveness of certain amino acids and nutrients in sustaining mental performance and immune function during periods of intense stress. This new information allowed for optimized nutrient content of rations to better protect soldiers from muscle wasting during missions at high altitude and to sustain performance during physically strenuous assignments.

“For soldiers, even a slight decrease in muscle or brain function can be life-threatening,” said Rood. “If we can help soldiers maintain their physical and mental performance, that can help more of them come home safely.”

The research demonstrated other changes resulting from being in the field. “As a result of prolonged operational stress, the soldiers’ testosterone and other hormone levels plummet. They lose fat and muscle mass and are injured more frequently,” Rood said. “They experience mental fatigue that can affect memory and concentration and make them less alert. Overall, the soldiers’ combat readiness declines.”

In 2019, through a three-year, $3.5 million clinical trial with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Pennington Biomedical examined if weight and muscle mass loss could be prevented by maintaining warfighters’ testosterone at normal levels with a long-acting, low dose of the hormone.

This research built on Pennington Biomedical’s earlier work in this area, called the Optimizing Performance for Soldiers study. The study suggested that supplemental testosterone may increase muscle mass and reduce weight loss in young men who burn more calories than they consume over the short term.

Pennington Biomedical also received a second award in 2019 of up to $12.9 million over five years to analyze biochemical markers of gastrointestinal and metabolic health, nutritional status, appetite regulation, cognition health, physiologic function, and physiologic status in a variety of studies by U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine’s (USARIEM) Military Nutrition Division.

Pennington Biomedical will analyze tens of thousands of samples from previous USARIEM studies. Current research includes examining biochemical markers of stress and resiliency that may predict military career success and injury, studying how high altitude affects carbohydrate metabolism during exercise, and determining whether or not nutritional intake is linked to declines in physical performance.

“We are looking for the optimum fuel to feed our warfighters to maximize mental and physical function,” Rood said.

That said, there is more to soldiers’ health, performance, and readiness than nutrition. “Lack of readiness is a clear and growing threat to our national security,” Tiffany Stewart, PhD, who holds the Dudley and Beverly Coates Endowed Professorship and is the Director of Behavior Technology at Pennington Biomedical, said. “Almost 80 percent of the civilian population would be medically disqualified from joining the military due to weight, body fat and fitness abilities, but also because of medications and struggles with mental health. That’s a huge problem since we’re also losing soldiers for the very same reasons, on top of burnout and injury.”

“We are looking at the health of the whole soldier. We want our men and women in uniform to be ready for whatever they may face during their service, and that means being at their best both physically and mentally,” she added.

“Nutrition, fitness, sleep and mental health are our four targets and the keys to maximizing our soldiers’ health, performance, and resilience in the field and at home,” said Stewart.

In response to a growing need to provide

mobile tools for soldiers that can go where they go, Stewart’s team developed the Healthy Eating Activity Lifestyle Training Headquarters (H.E.A.L.T.H.) program. The smartphone app targets nutrition, fitness, sleep, and mental tools to aid soldiers and their family members in combating stress in positive ways while maintaining health and performance metrics like the Army Physical Fitness Test, quality sleep, and adequate eating and nutrition habits, while deployed or at home. Over the last 15 years, there have been several updates to the program, as well as pivot programs, including the Army H.E.A.L.T.H. Intensive Program, which added a personal health coach component in addition to the app-based experience. These targeted efforts to aid soldiers in maintaining health and performance standards in the context of ever-changing and demanding missions provide soldiers with tools to use on their own time without going to a clinic. Stewart and her team also developed a companion program for soldiers’ families.

The Louisiana National Guard has helped hone and test the program through 137 units in 40 parishes. All soldiers in the Army currently have access to H.E.A.L.T.H., and more than 15,000 active-duty, reservists, and National Guard soldiers and their families have used the program. Soldiers and their families use Pennington Biomedical’s Army H.E.A.L.T.H. program to help them stay physically fit at home and assure they are prepared for combat and state deployments.

Now, through a new federal award of $3.6 million, Stewart and Rood will launch four additional projects to improve the health, performance and resilience of the American solider and Louisiana guardsmen and cadets.

In the first project, Stand Ready, Rood will establish connections between diet and disease with an eye on personal biochemistry and metabolic biomarkers to allow the military to optimize how individual soldiers eat. Precision Defense, also led by Rood, will investigate the need for different diets for male and female

Dr. Jennifer Rood

soldiers to increase iron absorption, reduce reliance on muscle glycogen as fuel, and minimize loss of lean muscle during strenuous military operations. Stewart’s Four Pillars of Defense will extend a wholehealth approach to Louisiana National Guard soldiers, their families and Louisiana first responders through AI-driven smartphone technology focused on nutrition, fitness, sleep, positive mental coping, stress management, and mental resilience training. Aim High, another Stewart-led project, will help youth and potential military recruits, including participants in the Louisiana National Guard’s 20-week residential Youth Challenge Program, get “Army ready.”

“We have the best military in the world, but that is not a reason to stop improving. Cutting-edge nutritional science and behavior technology-based programs that improve mental resilience, remedy the effects of post-traumatic stress, and keep our troops healthy are necessary and are pioneered at Pennington Biomedical Research Center,” said U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, who recently led efforts to secure new Congressional funding to support this work. “This is great for our military men and women and great for our country. I am thankful that this research begins right here at home, and I remain committed to building upon Pennington Biomedical’s many successes.”

“Pennington Biomedical is in its fourth decade as the top provider of nutrition science for the Department of Defense,” said Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation President and CEO Rebecca Schutte. “I am thankful to be part of an organization that supports the physical and mental health of our soldiers and their families.”

Dr. Tiffany Stewart

Changing the Future of Cancer: Pennington Biomedical Part of International Team Awarded

$ 25 Million

many as 80% of people with advanced cancer.

“The extreme weight loss and muscle loss makes daily activities difficult or even impossible for individuals, and it increases their risk for death,” said Brown, the Director of Pennington Biomedical’s Cancer Metabolism Research Program. “And we can’t reverse the weight loss by adding more calories to the diet. In fact, at this time there are no treatments at all for it.”

Pennington Biomedical faculty members Steven Heymsfield, MD, and Justin Brown, PhD, are members of an international team that has secured $25 million to take on the challenge of cachexia. The team, called the Cancer Cachexia Action Network (CANCAN) is led by the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Weill Cornell Medicine and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

CANCAN is made up of clinicians, advocates, and scientists with expertise in cancer, metabolism, neuroendocrinology, and immunology from 14 institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom. Collectively, they are building the world’s first virtual institute with a mission to solve cancer cachexia. The team plans to develop a deep understanding of what causes cachexia and innovate novel treatments to intervene with the potential to transform people’s quality of life and ultimately survival.

Cachexia (pronounced kuh-KEK-see-uh) is actually a metabolic disorder that can affect as

Cachexia is a major clinical problem, present in other chronic diseases as well, including heart failure, obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease.

“Cachexia contributes to adverse outcomes in cancer and other chronic diseases. However, its underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Discovering what actually triggers cachexia and how it interacts with the underlying cancer may lead to treatments and preventions that improve the course of some common forms of cancer,” said Heymsfield, Pennington Biomedical’s Lead Investigator on the team, and Professor and Director of Pennington Biomedical’s Body Composition & Metabolism Laboratory. “Scientists are driven to discover the root causes of disease and being part of this team and the Cancer Grand Challenge project fulfills that dream.”

Cancer Grand Challenges, a prestigious global funding platform supported by Cancer Research U.K. and the U.S. National Cancer Institute, is

Cachexia: It is the devastating muscle wasting that is often the hallmark of the final stages of cancer and other diseases and the outward, visible sign of everything going wrong on the inside of the body.

sponsoring the work. Cancer Grand Challenges seeks to bring together diverse, global teams to think differently and take on some of cancer’s toughest challenges. Nearly 170 teams from more than 60 countries submitted proposals to Cancer Grand Challenges. CANCAN is one of four teams chosen for funding.

“We think that cachexia is driven by the tumor, which activates biological pathways that lead to anorexia, metabolic dysfunction and tissue wasting,” Heymsfield said. “As part of CANCAN, we will explore the metabolic imbalance between the tumor and the patient, the role of inflammation in controlling appetite, and the potential to change the course of the disease through diet and medications.”

“It’s a very exciting time to be in cancer research, and we’re excited to be part of this international team of researchers,” said Brown. “This is a unique opportunity to tackle complex issues like cachexia that would have been impossible before now.”

”We hope, as part of the CANCAN team, to get to the bottom of cancer cachexia and ultimately, provide the benchmark for care around the world,” Heymsfield said.

Steven Heymsfield, MD

Justin Brown, PhD

Opera Legend Renée Fleming

Headlines Successful Music and the Mind Event for Pennington Biomedical

Music enthusiasts and supporters of Pennington Biomedical came together for two very special events on back-to-back nights in May of 2022 to benefit Pennington Biomedical’s scientific programs and research.

Pennington Biomedical experts Drs. John Kirwan, Owen Carmichael, Tiffany Stewart and Jeff Keller teamed up with four-time Grammy® Award winner Renée Fleming to discuss the powerful connections between the arts and health at the Music and the Mind panel discussion. In addition to her National Medal of Arts and Tony nomination, Ms. Fleming is also a prominent health advocate and award-winning public speaker who serves as Artistic Advisor to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. She also works with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the Sound Health Initiative which explores and brings attention to research and practice at the intersection of music, health, and neuroscience.

The next evening, music enthusiasts joined Ms. Fleming as she performed selections from her expansive repertoire, with Inon Barnatan as her piano accompanist, at the Baton Rouge River Center Theatre for Performing Arts. Paula de la Bretonne, a Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation board member and granddaughter of Pennington Biomedical founder “Doc” Pennington, served as co-chair of the event, together with Diane Tate. Both were instrumental

in bringing Ms. Fleming to Baton Rouge for these events.

“It was such a magnificent and unique opportunity to bring together all these renowned individuals in one room and have the opportunity for the community to join as well," Ms. de la Bretonne said. "I know my grandfather would have been proud to see Ms. Fleming at the Center, as well as showcasing the Pennington Biomedical panelists who participated with her in Music and the Mind. It was a certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Baton Rouge."

Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation President and CEO Rebecca Schutte shared that 100% of the proceeds from both events benefited Pennington Biomedical. “These Music and the Mind events allowed us to combine the best that science and music have to offer through the world-renowned research of Pennington Biomedical alongside one of the most internationally-acclaimed and popular singers in the world – Ms. Fleming,” she said.

“The local community has always been incredibly generous with their support. We want to especially thank all the sponsors who generously championed these extraordinary events,” she said. “We also want to thank our volunteer committee members and staff who were essential to making these events so successful."

Music and The Mind was made possible through the generosity of sponsors, including:

Title Sponsor

Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation

Maestro Anonymous

John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer

Virtuoso The Advocate

Annette Barton

Baton Rouge General Cox

Lipsey’s Lamar Advertising

Carole and Charles Lamar

Charlie Valluzzo

Melodic Partner

Blue Cross and Blue

Shield of Louisiana

Susan and Jack Dampf

Meredith L. Hathorn and Rawley M. Penick

Lee Michaels Fine

Jewelry

Long Law Firm

Naveon

Olivier Group

Josef Sternberg

Memorial Fund

Benn and Amanda

Vincent Charitable Fund

Concerto Club

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP

Fishman Haygood

Dr. John and Mrs. April Kirwan

Alice and Larry Kronenberger

Louisiana Seafood

Rouses Markets

Diane and Johnny Tate

Taylor Porter Law Firm

Wells Fargo Advisors

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

* Abba J. Kastin, MD

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

Lifetime Giving

The recognition for Lifetime Giving reflects gifts received through June 30, 2022.

Pennington Society

$1,000,000 and above

Annette D. Barton

Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Claude Bouchard and Monique Chagnon

*Imogene N. Brown in memory of L. Heidel Brown Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan

Coypu Foundation Trust

Edward G. Schlieder Educational Foundation

Art E. Favre

Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation

Louisiana Board of Regents/Educational Quality Support Fund

Louisiana Public Facilities Authority

Virginia B. and John B. Noland

Our Lady of the Lake Foundation

Pennington Medical Foundation

*C.B. “Doc” and *Irene W. Pennington

John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer

President’s Circle

$500,000 - $999,999

Alta and John Franks Foundation

*John W. Barton, Sr.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

Capital One (formerly Hibernia National Bank)

The Coca-Cola Company

Dr. and Mrs. Jacques A. de la Bretonne

Entergy

*Dr. William Hansel

JPMorgan Chase

Charles and Carole Lamar Family

*Don and Pat Lyle

Gary and Claudia Phillips

The Reilly Family Foundation

United Companies Financial Corporation

Preeminent Benefactor

$250,000-$499,999

Albemarle Foundation

Laura and James J. Bailey, III

Baton Rouge General Medical Center

*Dudley and Beverly Coates

Lamar Advertising Company

*Bert S. and *Sue Turner

Premier Benefactor

$100,000 - $249,999

Anonymous (3)

Amedisys

American Council on Exercise

*P. Foster Bailey

Tim and Nan Barfield

Marilyn and George A. Bray, MD

Holly Coates Carville, *Camille Coates, and Catherine H. Coates in honor of *Dudley and Beverly Coates

*Ms. Camille Coates

Kevin and Monica Courville

Loretta M. and *Edward M. Downey

Eli Lilly and Company

Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation

H&E Equipment Services

Hancock Whitney Bank

Leroy and Fran Harvey

*Bill and *Anne Hise

Estate of Jerry Hornsby

The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation

The John W. Barton Family Foundation

Helen and Ben Johnson

J. Gerard and Donna Jolly

Knoll Pharmaceutical - BASF Corporation

Dr. Iris Krupp

Susan and Richard Lipsey

Louisiana Charities Trust

Kevin R. Lyle

RoyOMartin

*Ruth and *Charles McCoy

Robert W. Merrick

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

*Margaret C. Moore

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

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

Josef Sternberg Memorial Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Moo and Martin Svendson

Roland and Kay Toups

Turner Industries Group, L.L.C.

United Way of Southeast Louisiana

Charles and *Nancy Valluzzo

WHLC Architecture

Philanthropist

$50,000 - $99,999

Anonymous (4)

Patsy and Lawrence D. Adcock

All Star Automotive Group/Matthew McKay

Amway Global Procurement

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Nan and Herb Boydstun

Mary Kay and J. Terrell Brown

Centers for Obesity Research & Education

CIGNA Foundation

*Lev Dawson

The Dow Chemical Company

*Rubye Lee Engquist

ExxonMobil

Guaranty Corporation

*John and Cynthia Graves

Margaret C. Hart

Cordell and Ava Haymon

Mr. and Mrs. John H. Hernandez

Hovey S. Simon - Uniroyal Chemical Company Fund

Jenny Craig Management, Inc.

Ann Reiley Jones

*D. Benjamin Kleinpeter

Charles and Josephine Lamar Memorial Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Dixon

Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Lamar III

Madison C. Lamar

Gordon and Teri LeBlanc

C.C. and Alex Lewis Family

Brenda and Lee Michael Berg

Lipsey’s (Richard Lipsey/Laurie Aronson)

Louisiana Ballooning Foundation

Louisiana CAT, LLC

*Clark G. Boyce

Robert M. Boyce

Robert D. Webb

Jeanie and David Bondy

*Douglas L. Manship, Sr.

Mars, Incorporated

Brent and Sunny McCoy

The Milford Wampold Support Foundation

Nanette Noland

Nutrition 21, Inc.

Ochsner Medical Center of Baton Rouge

Performance Contractors, Inc.

Phenex Pharmaceuticals AG

Phytomedics, Inc.

Placid Refining Company, LLC

*Norma Jean Raiford

Jennifer Eplett and Sean E. Reilly

Roche Laboratories, Inc.

Donna H. Ryan, MD and Edwin Lupberger

Chuck and Pam Schwing

Page and William L. Silvia, Jr.

Mrs. Joseph S. Simmons

Slim Fast Foods Company

*Mr. and *Mrs. Leonard J. Sullivan

Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.

The Newton B. Thomas Family/Newtron Group

Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Tomarlee Foundation

Sari and Thomas H. Turner

Westlake Partners

Woman’s Hospital

Employee Giving

Anonymous (21)

Diana C. Albarado

Vance L. Albaugh, MD, PhD

David E. Alexander

H. Raymond Allen

Tim Allerton

John W. Alpozan, PhD

Bridget Anzivino

Jennifer Arceneaux

S. Ariel Barlow

Bethani Bell

Grace Bella

Brittney Bergeron

Thomas W. Blalock

Claude Bouchard, PhD

Paula Brantley, PhD

Phillip J. Brantley, PhD

George A. Bray, MD

Amy Braymer

Jennifer B. Briganti

Evest A. Broussard

Justin C. Brown, PhD

Stephanie Broyles, PhD

Annadora J. Bruce-Keller, PhD

Barry J. Buchanan

Erone Burchell

David H. Burk, PhD

Pedro Calado

Catherine Carmichael

Owen T. Carmichael, PhD

Catherine Champagne, PhD, RDN

Helia Cheng

Christi Cole

Aryelle Collins

Bridget S. Conner

Brenda B. Dahmer for Aveia D. Coleman

Lisa Dalfrey

Laura S. Dallam

Bryan Dodd

Kristin Domangue

Sheletta Donatto

Amber Dragg

Anne Duke

Kenneth Eilertsen, PhD

Carrie Elks, PhD, RD

Carlante Emerson

Shirley Ennis

Han Fang, PhD

Nicole Fearnbach, PhD

Alana Fernandez

Emily W. Flanagan

Denise Flock-Williams

Elizabeth Floyd, PhD

Kayla Fuselier, PhD, MS

Ru Gao, PhD

Diane Gardner

Bethany H. Gildersleeve

Ritchie Goebel

Dr. Stewart T. Gordon

Nicholas Green

André Greene

Frank L. Greenway, MD

Julie Hardee

Melissa N. Harris

Innocence Harvey, PhD

Yanlin He, PhD

Callie Hebert

Sharon Y. Hebert

Jennifer Heckert

Chelsea A. Hendrick

Steven B. Heymsfield, MD

Cristal M. Hill, PhD

Floyd Hodoh

Gang Hu, MD, MPH, PhD

Amy Huffstickler

Donald K. Ingram, PhD

Lisa W. Jones

Stephanie Jones

Peter Katzmarzyk, PhD

Christopher Keaton

Jeffrey Keller, PhD

John P. Kirwan, PhD

Cindy A. Kloster

Chelsea Kracht, PhD

Elizabeth Labarre

Kimberly Landry

Guy LaVergne

Kimberly M. Lawrence

Stephen P. Lee

Kathryn Legett

Walter E. Legett

Juan Lertora, MD, PhD

Melissa Linden, PhD

Casie Lindsly, PhD

Angelique Litsey

Diane F. Lowrey

Natalie Malek

Raoul Manalac, MD

Kimberly A. Marcell

Kara Marlatt, PhD, MPH

Thomas L. Martin

Allison Paige McCown

David H. McDougal, PhD

Ami McGucken

Tamra M. Mendoza

Jacob Mey, PhD, RD

Heidi K. Millet

Emily Mire

Ronald B. Monce

Christopher Morrison, PhD

Vyaisha Moss

Julie Mossholder

Monica B. Mougeot

Heike Muenzberg-Gruening, PhD

Kori Murray

Candice A. Myers, PhD

Alexandra Nauta

Phillip Nauta

Lauryn Onstead

James R. Palmer

Jennifer Parfait

Lindsey E. Pate

Nancy G. Pease

Erin Penney

Sissy Perrilloux

Julie Persac

Melanie E. Peterson

Jessica Posey

Monique R. Powell

Tiffany H. Prather

Renee Puyau

Eric Ravussin, PhD

Candida Rebello, PhD

Allison Richard, PhD

Jennifer C. Rood, PhD

Stacey Roussel

Donna H. Ryan

Brandi Savoy

Rebecca Schutte

Lynn Schroeder

Stacy Sharpe

Mandy Shipp

William L. Silvia, Jr.

Kem B. Singletary

Julia St. Amant

Marshall St. Amant, MD

Mary St. Romain

Amanda Staiano, PhD

Lori Steib

Jacqueline Stephens, PhD

Aimee Ellender Stewart

Tiffany Stewart, PhD

Kirsten Stone, PhD

Analisa Taylor

Jennifer Terrebonne

Angelina M. Thibodeaux

Valerie Toups

R. Leigh Townsend

Bonnie Hymel Trentacoste

Elizabeth W. Tucker

Dawn Turner

Matthew Viverito

Caroline Wallace

Jaycob Warfel

Christy White, DVM

Edie O. White

Aubrey Windham

Ying Wu

2021-2022 Giving

We thank our donors who made a gift during the previous fiscal year, July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.

$100,000 and above

Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Claude Bouchard and Monique Chagnon

Estate of Camille F. Coates

Dr. and Mrs. Jacques A. de la Bretonne

Edward G. Schlieder Educational Foundation

The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation

$50,000-$99,999

Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation

Madison Lamar

Virginia B. and John B. Noland

$25,000-$49,999

Kevin and Monica Courville

Art E. Favre

Melior Discovery, Inc.

Mrs. Joseph S. Simmons

John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer

$10,000-$24,999

Anonymous (2)

American Council on Exercise

Amway Global Procurement

Baton Rouge General Medical Center

Annette D. Barton

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation

The Carter Chapman Shreve Family Foundation

Beverly Coates

Cox Communications

John and Marty Engquist

Entergy

Leroy and Fran Harvey

Antoinette and Kenneth P. Kleinpeter, Sr.

Lamar Advertising Company

Charles and Carole Lamar

Susan and Richard Lipsey

*Don and Pat Lyle Medtronic

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

Jennifer Eplett and Sean E. Reilly

Sable Systems International

Josef Sternberg Memorial Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Moo and Martin Svendson

Tomarlee Foundation

Roland and Kay Toups

Mr. Charles L. Valluzzo

WHLC Architecture

$5,000-$9,999

Anonymous (3)

Adipo Therapeutics, LLC

The John W. Barton Family Foundation

Brenda and Lee Michael Berg

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

Susan and Jack Dampf

Cynthia Graves

Mrs. Meredith L. Hathorn and Mr. Rawley M. Penick

Cordell and Ava Haymon

J. Gerard and Donna Jolly

Ann Reiley Jones

Jane and Kris Kirkpatrick

Gordon and Teri LeBlanc

C.C. and Alex Lewis Family

Dr. Phillip Lewis

Long Law Firm NAVEON

The Newton B. Thomas Family/Newtron Group Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Dr. and Mrs. Victor M. Oliver

Gail and Bill O’Quin

Phyllis Perron

Chuck and Pam Schwing

The Olivier Group, LLC

Benn and Amanda Vincent Charitable Fund

Weight Watchers International, Inc.

Monica and Tony Zumo

$2,500-$4,999

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Adamek

Aetna Medicare Solutions

Peggy and John Barton, Jr.

Dr. Gene Berry

Big Sky Health

Marvin and Susan Borgmeyer

Drs. Phillip and Paula Brantley

Marilyn and George A. Bray, MD

Mary Kay and J. Terrell Brown

Dr. Mathijs Bunck

Maxine Cormier

Robert and Mary Delarosa

Fishman Haygood, LLP

Gallagher

Gelesis Inc

Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP, CPAs

Hargrove Foundation

Dr. Axel Haupt

Mr. and Mrs. John Hill, Jr.

Estate of Jerry Hornsby

Mr. and Mrs. Craig S. Jennings

JPMorgan Chase

Dr. and Mrs. John P. Kirwan

Jeanie and David Bondy

Judge Jennifer Luse

Brent and Sunny McCoy

Vera Olds

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Olinde

Janet L. Olson

Peoples Health

Dr. William Roell

Donna M. Saurage

Hank and Laurie Saurage

The Alma Lee, Norman and Cary Saurage Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Jean and Will Wilcox

$1,000-$2,499

Anonymous (3)

Aaron or Peggy Selber Foundation, Inc.

Charles J. and Connie C. Abboud

Acadian Companies

Jerry and Renee Arndt

Robert and Nancy Baldridge

Tim and Nan Barfield

The Bayou Research Institute

Katie Olinde Belcher

Charles D. Belleau, MD

Dr. and Mrs. Frederic T. Billings, III

Brent and Donna Boé

Si Brown

Mr. and Mrs. Shaun A. Burns

Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Campbell, Jr.

Steve and Anne Carville

Scott and Katherine Chenevert

Dr. Brian Hales and Ms. Catherine Coates

Donna and Benjamin DiChiara

Randy Ewing

Mr. and Mrs. Todd A. Gerald

Grady Crawford Construction Co., Inc.

Mr. Elliott Grand

Robert T. Grissom, M.D.

Liz Hampton

Richard C. Hebert, MD

Mr. and Mrs. John H. Hernandez

Dr. and Mrs. Steven Heymsfield

Donald K. and Cathline C. Ingram

J. B. Levert Foundation, Inc.

Johnson Properties Inc.

Jay and Liz Jolly

Dan and Carla Jumonville

Gretchen and Lee Kantrow

Jeffrey Keller, PhD

Michael and Toni Kirby

Edith and Claude Kirkpatrick Foundation Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Kevin and Debbie Knobloch

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Koch

Mr. John M. Kovich

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Kronenberger

Dr. and Mrs. W. Joseph Laughlin, Jr.

Anne and Walter Legett

Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Levy

Cornelius A. Lewis

Losby Family Fund

Louisiana Companies

Kevin R. Lyle

Frank and Kathy McArthur

Dr. John McClelland

Lee and Phyllis McLaurin

McMains Foundation Fund of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Edward and Susan Morrison

Moyse Family Foundation

Mark and Debbie Murrell

Mr. and Mrs. George D. Nelson, Jr.

Buddy and Linda Ohmstede

Dan and Kathy O’Leary

Dr. and Mrs. Andrew “Andy” J. Olinde

Elizabeth Olinde

Beau and Cheryl Olinde

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center

Mr. and Mrs. John H. Pace

Mr. Brandon G. Parlange

Jim and Shannon Poche’

Bryan and Raymond G. Post, Jr.

Mr. Matthew G. Rachleff

Eric and Marie Ravussin

Dr. Jennifer C. Rood and Mr. Michael Rood

Mr. and Mrs. Edward L. Rotenberg

Rouse’s Enterprises, LLC

Mike and Ayan Rubin

Walter Rudd

Donna H. Ryan, MD and Edwin Lupberger

Rob and Pat Scheffy

Olivia O. Schoen

Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Schutte, Jr.

Rebecca Schutte and Guil Miranda

Page and William L. Silvia, Jr.

John and Linda Spain

Dr. Tiffany Stewart and Devin Lemoine

Strong Lachemann Foundation

T & A Investment Company LLC

Johnny and Diane Tate

Taylor Porter Law Firm

Dr. and Mrs. R. Scott Thurston

Sal and Bonnie Trentacoste

Elizabeth W. Tucker

Malcolm L. Tucker

United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana

James and Jennifer Usher

Knobloch, Poche, Burns Wealth Management Group

Ann Wilkinson

Karen Williams and Cornelius Lewis

Jennifer and Chuck Winstead

The Milton J. Womack Foundation of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Janet and John A. Young

Recognition for all philanthropic giving reflects gifts received July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. We do our best to list donors’ names and titles according to donors’ preferences. If we made an error or omission of your giving, we apologize and request that you notify us so we can correct our records.

Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation

Board of Directors

The legacy of the Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation continues through the dedication of community leaders whose steadfast volunteer service and board leadership are achieving the Foundation’s mission and vision for tomorrow. The Foundation proudly recognizes our Board of Directors.

Officers

Monica Zumo, Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP, Chair

Janet L. Olson, Lamar Advertising Company (retired), Immediate Past-Chair

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

C. Brent McCoy, Lamar Advertising Company (retired), Treasurer

Annette D. Barton, Community Leader/Philanthropist, Secretary

Directors

Marvin Borgmeyer, Exxon Mobil (retired)

J.S. Brown III, Bruce Foods Corporation

Maxine Cormier, Governmental Relations Consultant

Paula Pennington de la Bretonne, Community Leader/Philanthropist

Art Favre, Performance Contractors

Fran Harvey, Louisiana Remote Sensing and GIS Institute

Chris Haskew, Capital One

Veneeth Iyengar, State of Louisiana

J. Gerard Jolly, KPMG

C. Kris Kirkpatrick, Long Law Firm

Charles Lamar, Investor/Philanthropist

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)

Karen Williams, MD, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (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

Jake Netterville, Pennington Medical Foundation

Rebecca F. Schutte, Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation

William Tate IV, PhD, LSU President

Mary Werner, LSU Board of Supervisors Representative

Partner with Us!

Join us as we work to find solutions for many different chronic diseases. All gifts to the Foundation are tax deductible, and many qualify for Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF) Priority Points. Each $1,000 donation made is eligible for 1 priority point. To receive your priority points, existing TAF members will need to include their TAF ID numbers along with their gift. Foundation staff can assist in the establishment of an account for donors who wish to join the program. Geaux Tigers!

HOW TO MAKE A GIFT

Online Visit pbrf.org/giving/

Phone Call Kaitlyn Mattox at (225) 763-0929

Mail Mail your donation to:

Pennington Biomedical Research Foundation 6400 Perkins Road

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808

Scan Scan the QR code below

ways. Please consult your tax professional for advice related to your financial situation. To make a gift of stock or securities, please contact André Greene at 225-763-2684 or by email at André. Greene@pbrf.org, so we can provide our current account information in advance of the transfer.

Donor Advised Fund

If you have a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) through an investment 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 Donor Advised Fund account. Giving through your DAF is a powerful way to invest in our mission of saving lives through the prevention and treatment of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.

Wire Transfer

Please let us know if the gift is a tribute gift and/or if you would like the gift reported to Tiger Athletic Foundation for priority points. Please also let us know how you would like to be listed in future publications and how we can best get in touch with you if we have any questions.

Stocks and Securities

Donations of stock and other securities can be a tax-efficient way to make a meaningful gift to Pennington Biomedical. Outright gifts of marketable securities can be made in several

To make a gift via wire transfer, please contact André Greene at 225-763-2684 or by email at Andre.Greene@pbrf.org so we can provide our current account information in advance of the transfer.

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 outright 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 in some cases. Matching gifts will be directed to the same program or purpose identified with your personal gift. Please contact Kaitlyn Mattox at (225) 7630929 or by email at Kaitlyn.Mattox@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.

WHERE TO MAKE AN IMPACT Annual Fund for Excellence

Every year, the Foundation receives hundreds of gifts from donors who support our mission. The Annual Fund is especially important to Pennington Biomedical because the money can be used where the need is greatest. Unrestricted gifts allow us to respond to the most pressing needs while providing flexibility to seize important and unique opportunities.

Endowed Chairs, Fellowships and Professorships

Competition for the best scientists and researchers is traditionally fierce in the sciences. Endowed chairs, fellowships and professorships are a highly valuable means to recruit and retain the best scientists who will lead us in finding novel solutions to address a variety of chronic diseases. The additional support and recognition that accompanies an endowed chair often makes the difference in our ability to recruit a distinguished

faculty member despite competition from other institutions. Because endowments live in perpetuity and the principal is always protected, Chairs, Fellowships and Professorships provide an excellent way to honor a lifetime of career achievement or pay tribute to a loved one. Additionally, a special state program offers matching funds for some private gifts through the Board of Regents Support Fund. To find out more, contact Ritchie Goebel at (225) 763-3181 or by email at Ritchie.Goebel@pbrf.org.

Specific Areas of Research or Laboratory Support

Donors may designate their gift to benefit an area of research or a scientist’s laboratory that is most meaningful to them. To find out more, contact Ritchie Goebel at (225) 763-3181 or by email at Ritchie.Goebel@pbrf.org.