RAL Seminar | March 2019 - A One-Health Strategy for Innovating Food Systems - Elizabeth Ryan
Channel: NSF NCAR Research Applications Laboratory
Date: 2019-06-26

A One-Health Strategy for Innovating Food Systems at the rural-urban interface and under the Impacts of Climate Variability and Change
DR. ELIZABETH RYAN | COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY AND COLORADO SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

In this talk I will speak about our global health research program that includes our strong interests to integrate our ongoing work at the food, water, energy nexus with environmental sustainability and climate science research affecting both rural and urban areas. One example of innovative solutions to food systems is the development of a heat stabilized rice bran product for developing countries where rice is a staple food crop. While rice crop diseases and yields are already experiencing climate stress, rice bran is typically wasted food or animal feed, and has strong potential for human food consumption and to combat risks for childhood malnutrition and mitigate diarrheal disease burdens. Our teams are also promoting gut health across the lifespan via increasing cultivation and consumption of drought-resistant, climate adapted pulse crops such as beans and cowpeas that are rich sources of protein, fiber and essential micronutrients. Other particular research interests and expertise lie in 
the complex interactions of food components with gut microbiota and the immune system to help fight enteric pathogen infections and diarrheal diseases that are both increasing in prevalence and acquiring antimicrobial resistance. Multiple strategies are needed for sustainable solutions in both urban and rural regions that align with national policies and desired economic growth for impacts on planet and public health.
Dr. Ryan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University and Colorado School of Public Health. Her multi-platform research strategy covers molecular biology, laboratory animal models, companion animals/livestock, and human clinical trials.  She has a portfolio of 80+ peer-reviewed scientific publications with collaborations across the broader fields of agriculture, microbiology, immunology, oncology, pediatrics and nutrition. She provides expertise globally on gut health properties of whole grains, legumes, and fermented foods. Her current research program has funding support from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture and her global health research awards have been supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

RAL SEMINAR SERIES
TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2019 | 2:00-3:00 P.M. | FL2-1001 
NATIONAL CENTER FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH, BOULDER