HJBR Nov/Dec 2019

38 NOV / DEC 2019  I  Healthcare Journal of baton rouge   Healthcare Briefs the program, patients currently in the program, and those interested in the program. Pennington Biomedical Secures $16.4Million in DefenseWork LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Cen- ter has received two new military awards to study how to reduce warfighter muscle loss and fatigue during combat operations and to analyze bio- chemical markers of warfighter nutritional status and performance. “For warfighters, even a slight decrease in mus- cle or brain function can be life-threatening,” said Jennifer Rood, PhD, associate executive director for Cores and Resources at Pennington Biomed- ical. “If we can help soldiers maintain their physi- cal and mental performance, that can help more of them come home safely.” 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, Rood 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 bod- ies need. “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 expe- rience mental fatigue that can affect memory and concentration and make them less alert. Overall, the soldiers’ combat readiness declines.” Pennington Biomedical, one of the world’s lead- ing obesity research centers, helped collect the operational-stress data from warfighters in field settings across the globe. Under one award, a three-year, $3.5 million clin- ical trial with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Penning- ton Biomedical will examine whether it is pos- sible to prevent the loss of weight and muscle mass by maintaining warfighters’ testosterone at normal levels with a long-acting, low dose of the hormone. The new research will build on Pennington Bio- medical’s earlier work in this area, called the Opti- mizing 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 five-year award of up to $12.9 million to analyze biochem- ical markers of gastrointestinal and metabolic health, nutritional status, physiologic function, appetite regulation, cognition health, and physi- ologic status in a variety of studies by USARIEM’s Military Nutrition Division. Pennington Biomedical will analyze hundreds of thousands of samples from USARIEM stud- ies. Research underway for the Military Nutrition Division includes examining biochemical mark- ers of stress and resiliency that may predict mili- tary career success and injury, studying how high altitude affects carbohydrate metabolism during exercise, and determining whether or not nutri- tional intake is linked to physical performance declines. You Aren't Alone Project Nonprofit Launches to Increase Support for Mental Health & Wellness in Baton Rouge The You Aren't Alone Project announced launch of the nonprofit to increase awareness and offer support for mental health and wellness in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.  The nonprofit officially launched with a Live Art Event, in partnership with Aetna Better Health Louisiana on July 26 at Mid City Ballroom. During this event, local artists told their stories of living with, or supporting someone living with depres- sion, anxiety, and other mental health issues through both visual and performance art in a pow- erful showcase of support. The event also offered resources from local behavioral health profession- als including Aetna, the Baton Rouge General Arts in Medicine program, Oceans Behavioral Health, OLOL Mental and Behavioral Health divi- sion, and the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, along with local authors.  The board of directors will be launching addi- tional programming and events in the fall with the goal of forming a network of ongoing support for mental health and wellness in Baton Rouge and surrounding communities so that no one ever has to feel alone. The project exists to encourage understanding, erase stigmas, and to invest in building the right relationships that will continue moving this initiative forward.  The vision for the project is to be the platform that paves the way for mental and behavioral health in Louisiana to be treated and talked about in the same way as physical health.  The board is currently seeking support from partnering organizations and individuals in the behavioral health and wellness field. UnumAwards Grants to 15 EBRP Teachers with Innovative Teaching Ideas Fifteen educators in East Baton Rouge Par- ish started this school year with recognition and $1,000 each for funding their innovative teach- ing ideas. Unum (NYSE: UNM) and its Starmount subsid- iary awarded $15,000 in Strong Schools Grants to local public school teachers during a reception on Aug. 20. The grants are given to teachers who demonstrate effective and creative ideas to engage students and improve their learning levels. “Education is one of Unum’s biggest areas of giving,” said Meghann Morin, Unum’s corporate responsibility manager in Baton Rouge. “We have been fortunate to provide our support to schools in multiple ways across the parish. Our Strong Schools Grant Program is unique, because we are able to help our talented educators enhance the learning environments for their students.” This year’s grant recipients received funding for a range of classroom projects. Some educa- tors will use the money to purchase new teaching aides and materials, such as STEM kits, science lab equipment, and virtual reality technology for social studies lessons. Others will obtain resources and establish new initiatives like men- toring programs that also foster character devel- opment and confidence. “Unum’s Strong Schools Grant allows teachers to seek funding for something that isn’t part of the traditional curriculum – but is still a needed component,” said John Underwood, a biology teacher at Baton Rouge Magnet High School. “And, anytime that we get support from busi- nesses within the community, it is meaningful to teachers, but it is also really meaningful to our students. It shows them that people care about