The UH Cancer Center is studying how body shape information can improve health by using 3D optical scanners and advanced statistical modeling .
Human body shape is an intuitive marker of health . Emerging 3D optical scanners are safe , inexpensive and accessible . We envision that monitoring body shape when exercising , or changing your diet gives you more useful feedback than change in weight on a scale , and will help people be more successful with their lifestyle changes , live healthier and live longer ,” said John Shepherd , PhD , principal investigator of the study and epidemiology researcher at the UH Cancer Center .
Shepherd , his team and collaborators lead the Shape Up ! Study funded by the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ). The study aims to develop tools and techniques to derive clinical health information from 3D body scanners .
Researchers will take full-body optical 3D scans at high spatial resolution of 720 adults and 720 kids . The participants will have other measures that are related to health and well-being including ,
• dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry ( DXA ) scans for body composition ,
• blood test for metabolic markers ,
• strength assessments and
• questions regarding their lifestyle and eating habits .
With this data , we can do some amazing things including modeling body shape changes due to loss or gain of muscle and fat . The findings from these studies will empower researchers , clinicians and even consumers to measure and monitor their body shape and health ,” said Shepherd .
GRADUATE STUDENT WINS MULTIPLE AWARDS FOR SEPSIS RESEARCH
Natalija Glibetic , a Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering graduate student , has won multiple awards for sepsis research conducted in the lab of Michelle L . Matter , PhD , from UH Cancer Center ’ s Cancer Biology Program .
I am incredibly grateful for all the support and attention my work has received . Sepsis is the leading cause of death in U . S . hospitals and accounts for 8.5 percent of cancer patient deaths each year , yet there are no sepsis-specific therapies . Native Hawaiians are particularly susceptible to cancer-associated sepsis , so it is crucial to develop these therapies for Hawai ‘ i ,” said Glibetic . “ Presenting at these symposiums , I was hoping to bring more attention to sepsis and the exciting work we are doing in Dr . Matter ’ s lab at the UH Cancer Center . Hopefully , with my contribution we will be a step closer to stopping sepsis .”
1ST PLACE BEST POSTER - GRADUATE DIVISION
2018 JABSOM Biomedical & Health Disparities Symposium Poster : R-Ras : a key regulator of sepsis-mediated vascular permeability .
30-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OVERALL BEST MASTER ’ S POSTER
2018 CTAHR ’ s Student Research Symposium Poster : R-Ras : a key regulator of sepsis-mediated vascular permeability .
1ST PLACE MASTER ’ S 3-MINUTE ELEVATOR PITCH
2018 CTAHR ’ s 3-Minute Elevator Pitch Competition Going with the flow to stop sepsis
RUNNER-UP 3 MINUTE THESIS AWARD
2018 Graduate Division 3-Minute Thesis ( 3MT ) Competition Going with the flow to stop sepsis
Natalija Glibetic
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