Nutrition researchers connect with resources and each other at statewide showcase

Left to right: Lisa Spence, RD, PhD (research dietitian, Nutrition and Exercise Research Center at IU Bloomington); Nana Gletsu Miller, PhD (Co-Director, Nutrition and Exercise Research Center at IU Bloomington); Laurie Trevino, MS (Operations Manager, IU School of Medicine Clinical Research Centers); Amy Wright, RD, MS (Bionutrition Manager, Purdue Clinical Research Center); Cheryl Armstrong, PhD (Director, Purdue Clinical Research Center effective April 1, 2025).

The first Indiana Nutrition for Health Research Showcase was “inspiring,” said Indiana CTSI Co-Director Sharon Moe, MD, who helped organize the event.

It took place on February 28, 2025, at the Stewart Center at Purdue University, and was co-hosted by the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) and Purdue Nutrition Science.

More than 150 people registered to attend, representing a diverse cross-section of career stages, institutions, and areas of research.

“I loved seeing so many people interested in improving health through improved research in nutrition. It was great to see collaborations forming between various universities and departments,” Moe said.

The showcase featured research presentations, roundtable discussions, and numerous opportunities to learn about the resources offered by the Indiana CTSI, Purdue, Indiana University Bloomington, and IU Indianapolis that support nutrition research across the state.

View Agenda

Mun Sun (Julia) Choi smiles in front of her poster presentation at the Indiana Nutrition for Health Research Showcase.
Mun Sun (Julia) Choi, Dual-Title PhD Candidate in Nutrition Science and Gerontology, Department of Nutrition Science at Purdue University, presents a poster on her research into perimenopause and iron deficiency.

There was also a poster session during which 46 presenters displayed and discussed their work. Additionally, 11 presenters presented oral abstracts.

The event gave nutrition researchers from all over the state the opportunity to connect with each other, said Rebecca Rivera, PhD, who is a research scientist at the Regenstrief Institute’s Clem McDonald Center for Biomedical Informatics.

Rivera proposed the idea for the showcase last year after reflecting on how a connected, statewide network would benefit nutrition researchers.

“There are amazing people doing amazing work across the translational spectrum in Indiana, and I thought it would be great to have a tighter connection” across campuses, she said.

Some of the statewide resources highlighted during the event include:

The event organizers are confident that the success of the event will lead to greater collaboration across the state—and future showcases, they said.

Co-organizer Nana Gletsu Miller, PhD, who is co-director of NERC, said that he group left the event with new ideas and collaborations.

“I am impressed with the amount and breadth of great nutrition research on our campuses,” she said. “Kudos to the Indiana CTSI and Purdue Nutrition Science for making this event happen.”