View source for Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging

{{Organization 
|OrganizationName=Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging 
|OrganizationType=Research and Development Agencies
|Mission=The HNRCA aims to promote healthy aging by exploring the relationship between nutrition, physical activity, and aging. It conducts comprehensive research to understand and improve the health outcomes of older adults through nutritional science.
|OrganizationExecutive=Director
|Employees=270
|Budget=
|Website=https://hnrca.tufts.edu/
|Services=Nutrition Research; Aging Studies; Dietary Interventions; Health Promotion
|ParentOrganization=Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture; Tufts University
|CreationLegislation=Food and Agriculture Act of 1977
|Regulations=
|HeadquartersLocation=42.342051, -71.089622
|HeadquartersAddress=711 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111
}}
The '''Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging''' ('''HNRCA'''), located in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of six human nutrition research centers in the United States supported by the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] [[Agricultural Research Service]]. The goal of the HNRCA, which is managed by Tufts University, is to explore the relationship between nutrition, physical activity, and healthy and active aging.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/Business/Business.htm?modecode=19-50-00-00 |title=Partnering with Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging |access-date=2013-05-15 |archive-date=2013-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510095802/http://www.ars.usda.gov/Business/Business.htm?modecode=19-50-00-00 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/about/mission/|title=Evidence- based research on healthy active aging through nutrition|publisher=}}</ref>

== History ==

In the [[Food and Agriculture Act of 1977]],<ref name="Rosenberg 192–193">{{cite journal|title=History of the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University|first=Irwin H.|last=Rosenberg|date=1 January 2009|journal=The Journal of Nutrition|volume=139|issue=1|pages=192–193|doi=10.3945/jn.108.096776|pmid=19056814|doi-access=free}}</ref> Congress directed the [[Secretary of Agriculture]] to establish a comprehensive human nutrition research program and to study the potential cost and value of regional research centers for nutrition. The Agriculture Appropriations Bill, passed later in 1977,<ref name="Rosenberg 192–193"/> instructed the USDA to establish an "adult" human nutrition research facility at [[Tufts University]] in Massachusetts. On August 1, 1979, the Cooperative Agreement between Tufts University and the USDA was signed, and on October 23 of the same year, the [[National Institute on Aging]] and the USDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding detailing their mutual interest in the HNRCA at Tufts University. Tufts University donated land from its Boston campus for the HNRCA. It is run by cooperative agreement between the [[Agricultural Research Service|ARS]] and Tufts University.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rosenberg|first=Irwin|title=History of the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University|journal=The Journal of Nutrition|year=2009|pmid=19056814|doi=10.3945/jn.108.096776|volume=139|issue=1|pages=192–3|doi-access=free}}</ref>

== Contributions to society  ==

The HNRCA is one of the largest research centers in the world studying nutrition and physical activity in healthy and active aging and the prevention of age-related disease.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/28/garden/center-studying-diet-s-links-to-aging.html | work=The New York Times | title=Center Studying Diet's Links To Aging | date=December 28, 1983}}</ref> It has made significant contributions to U.S. and international nutritional and physical activity recommendations, public policy, and clinical healthcare.<ref name="usda.gov">{{cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/recovery/boston.htm?pf=1|title=USDA Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging , Boston, Massachusetts}}</ref> 

These contributions include 

* advancements in the knowledge of the role of dietary calcium<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/27/us/study-finds-calcium-helpful-to-older-women.html | work=The New York Times | title=Study Finds Calcium Helpful to Older Women | date=September 27, 1990}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=161786|title= EFFECT OF DIETARY PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS ON CALCIUM EXCRETION IN HEALTHY OLDER MEN AND WOMEN }}</ref> and vitamin D in promoting nutrition and bone health,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/0418030-epidemiology-nutrition-and-problems-of-aging.html|title=EPIDEMIOLOGY, NUTRITION AND PROBLEMS OF AGING - JEAN MAYER USDA, HNRCA AT TUFTS UNIV|website=www.reeis.usda.gov}}</ref> 
* the role of nutrients in maintaining the optimal immune response<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=234162|title=Effect of Age on Susceptibility to Salmonella typhimurium Infection in C57BL/6 Mice: Role of the Immune System}}</ref> and 
* prevention of infectious diseases, 
* role of diet in prevention of cancer, obesity research,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/mar06/research0306.pdf |title=ARS National Research Program on Obesity|date=March 2006|magazine=Agricultural Research}}</ref> 
* modifications to the Food Guide Pyramid,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pages.shanti.virginia.edu/ollibesmart/tufts-myplate-for-older-adults/|title=Tufts MyPlate for Older Adults|url-status=}}{{deadlink|date=September 2023}}</ref> 
* contribution to USDA nutrient data bank, 
* advancements in the study of sarcopenia, heart disease,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/nutritionclinic/handouts/newsletters/BerrySeason.pdf |title=Berry Season|access-date=2013-05-15 |archive-date=2014-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114193012/http://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/nutritionclinic/handouts/newsletters/BerrySeason.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> vision, brain and cognitive function,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/neuroscience-and-aging/nutrition-and-neurocognition/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926013759/http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/neuroscience-and-aging/nutrition-and-neurocognition/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 September 2013|title=Neuroscience and Aging Lab - Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|date=26 September 2013|publisher=}}</ref> 
* front of packaging food labeling initiatives,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=8710|title=Partners : USDA ARS}}</ref> and 
* research of how genetic factors impact predisposition to weight gain<ref name="usda.gov" /> and various health indicators

== Center structure==

The HNRCA employs 270 people, including 60 scientific researchers (holding degrees of Ph.D., M.D., M.P.H., D.V.M.) with faculty appointments at different schools at Tufts University, adjunct scientists, postdoctoral fellows, visiting scientists, ARS researchers, graduate students  and other trainees, and administrative  and scientific support staff. HNRCA scientists are trained in nutrition, biochemistry, genetics, medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, physiology, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, physics, and molecular biology.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://provost.tufts.edu/institutionalresearch/files/FactBook2008-09Abridgedapril09update.pdf|title=Tufts University Abridged Fact Book 2007-2008|publisher= Office of Institutional Research & Evaluation|year=2009}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=19-50-00-00|title=Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging : USDA ARS}}</ref>

== Current research ==

Research clusters within the HNRCA address four specific strategic areas: 

# Cancer,
# Cardiovascular Disease,
# Inflammation, Immunity, and Infectious Disease and 
# Obesity<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/|title=Research Teams}}</ref>

HNRCA scientists collectively average more than one high-impact scientific journal publication each business day of the year and are often cited in the media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/publications/journal-publications/|title=Journal publications|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/publications/hnrca-in-the-media/|title=HNRCA in the media|publisher=|access-date=2013-05-15|archive-date=2013-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508120552/http://hnrca.tufts.edu/publications/hnrca-in-the-media/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Internal core units ==
Essential scientific core services provided within the HNRCA are 

* Biostatistics,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/biostatistics-unit/|title=Biostatistics and Data Management Unit - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref> 
* Comparative Biology Unit,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/comparative-biology-unit/|title=Comparative Biology Unit - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref> 
* Dietary Assessment Unit,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/dietary-assessment-unit/|title=Dietary Assessment Unit - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref> 
* Functional Genomics,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/functional-genomics-core/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523234714/http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/functional-genomics-core/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 May 2013|title=Functional Genomics Core - Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|date=23 May 2013|publisher=}}</ref> 
* Mass Spectrometry,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/mass-spectrometry-unit/|title=Mass Spectrometry Unit - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref> 
* Metabolic Research Unit,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/metabolic-research-unit/|title=Metabolic Research Unit - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref> and 
* Nutrition Evaluation Laboratory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/scientific-services/nutrition-evaluation-laboratory/|title=Nutrition Evaluation Laboratory - Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging|publisher=}}</ref>

== Research and publications ==
The HNRCA scientists collectively average more than one high-impact scientific journal publication each business day of the year and receive a large amount of high-profile media exposure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Human+Nutrition+research+center+on+aging&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0,22|title=Google Scholar|website=scholar.google.com}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Agricultural Research Service|USDA Agricultural Research Service]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official website|http://hnrca.tufts.edu|Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging}} – official website

=== Labs ===
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/antioxidants/ Antioxidants]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131211035707/http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/body-composition/ Body Composition]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/bone-metabolism/ Bone Metabolism]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/cardiovascular-nutrition/ Cardiovascular Nutrition]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/energy-metabolism/ Energy Metabolism]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130520204717/http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/lipid-metabolism/ Neuroscience and Aging]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130926013759/http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/neuroscience-and-aging/nutrition-and-neurocognition/ Nutrition and Neurocognition]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/nutrition-cancer-biology/ Nutrition & Cancer Biology]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/nutritional-epidemiology/ Nutritional Epidemiology]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/nutrition-exercise-physiology-sarcopenia-neps/ Nutrition, Exercise, Physiology and Sarcopenia (NEPS)]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/nutritional-genomics/ Nutritional Genomics]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/nutritional-immunology/ Nutritional Immunology]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/nutrition-vision-research/ Nutrition & Vision Research]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/obesity-metabolism/ Obesity Metabolism]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/vascular-biology/ Vascular Biology]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/vitamins-carcinogenesis/ Vitamins & Carcinogenesis]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/vitamin-k/ Vitamin K]
*[http://hnrca.tufts.edu/research/research-laboratories/vitamin-metabolism/ Vitamin Metabolism]

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[[Category:Food science institutes]]
[[Category:Research institutes established in 1979]]
[[Category:Tufts University]]
[[Category:United States Department of Agriculture facilities]]
[[Category:1979 establishments in Massachusetts]]