VIDEO: Advanced Nutrition Research: An Interview with Dr. David York

Recently, Dr. David York - a USTAR researcher at Utah State University - appeared on Park City TV. The talk is an informal and entertaining overview of the work being done at USU's Center for Advanced Nutrition (CAN).  

CAN aims to understand the mechanisms through which diet impacts health and disease from the level of the gene to the whole individual. The Center focuses on the modern scourges of obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases of aging such as Alzheimer's. Understanding nutritional effects promises to expand the development of new tests and products, and to shape nutritional approaches to prevent disease. 

Our thanks to Park City TV (http://parkcity.tv/) for making this ten-minute interview available to the Pulse audience.

In related news, Dr. York's colleague, Dr. Michael LeFevre, announced the launch of a study with human subjects to determine if prevention of cholesterol absorption is more effective when ezetimibe (an FDA-approved drug) and a diet rich in phytosterols are combined. An effective way to lower cholesterol is to block its absorption in the intestine during the digestive process. Ezetimibe does such blocking, as do naturally occurring compounds - called phytosterols or plant sterols - that are found in vegetable oils, nuts and legumes. 

About USTAR

The Utah Science Technology and Research initiative (USTAR) is a long-term, state-funded investment to strengthen Utah's "knowledge economy" and generate high-paying jobs. Funded in March 2006 by the State Legislature, USTAR is based on three program areas. The first area involves funding for strategic investments at the University of Utah and Utah State University to recruit world-class researchers. The second area is to build state-of-the-art interdisciplinary facilities at these institutions for the innovation teams. The third program area involves teams that work with companies and entrepreneurs across the State to promote science, innovation, and commercialization activities. For more information, go to www.innovationutah.com or follow http://twitter.com/Innovationutah.