News

Dr. Angela Zivkovic is a leading researcher in precision nutrition and a professor in the Department of Nutrition at UC Davis. Her work is grounded in the belief that chronic disease is not an inevitable part of aging, but rather the result of accumulated damage driven by factors like dysregulated metabolism and chronic inflammation—both of which are deeply influenced by diet and lifestyle. 

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, killing 87% of patients within five years. Previous studies have shown that obesity can increase pancreatic cancer risk by around 50%. In a new study from the University of California, Davis, researchers showed evidence that switching from a high-fat diet to a low-fat diet slowed pancreatic precancer development in mice, even after weight gain and precancerous changes began. The research was published in the Journal of Nutrition.

This year, UC Davis Campus Recreation was honored to have four students selected for the NIRSA William N. Wasson Student Leadership and Academic Award. These awards recognize exceptional undergraduate and graduate students who set the standard for campus recreation departments across the country. Students from Region VI (comprising Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and California), were selected—four of them are Aggies!

Four researchers with the UC Davis Department of Nutrition are being recognized for their contributions to advancing nutrition science and health.

Nutrition Department faculty, Drs. Lauren Au and Cassandra Nguyen, presented at the 20th Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Eating Research meeting in Durham, North Carolina on March 12-14th. They were joined by GGNB faculty, post-doc, and graduate student, Dr. Jennifer Falbe, Dr. Jennie Davis, and Christabel Domfe.

Congratulations to Alana Chaney! 

Dr. Dewy has been awarded the 2024-2025 UCD Emeriti/Emeritae Association’s Distinguished Emerita Award. This annual award honors outstanding scholarly work and/or University or professional service performed by a UC Davis Senate emeritus or emerita since their retirement.

Nutrition Alumni and Friends!

Join us for a virtual coffee chat with Nutrition Chair Gerardo Mackenzie!
Grab your favorite cozy beverage, spend some time to learn what’s new. Hear
about the department’s latest breakthroughs and the vital role our faculty
and students play in addressing today’s pressing issues. After a brief
presentation, Professor Mackenzie will open the floor to your questions,
followed by a raffle of fun swag to show your Aggie pride. Don’t miss this
opportunity to connect, engage, and support the future of nutrition science!

It’s mid-February and many New Year’s resolutions have already fizzled out, with research suggesting that about 80% don’t last past this point. Debbie Fetter, associate professor of teaching with the UC Davis Department of Nutrition, shares some practical tips to help make healthy habits last all year long. Fetter, who teaches the NUT 10 course, earned her Ph.D. in nutritional biology from UC Davis and provides strategies to help make healthy eating and exercise fun and sustainable.

Professor Fawaz Haj with the Department of Nutrition is set to moderate a panel on precision medicine for chronic metabolic diseases this week as part of a workshop series highlighting the innovative research between the U.S. and Kuwait. 

Kudos to Professor Haj on being part of these important discussions about the advancements in precision medicine! The event is Feb. 2-3 in Kuwait, details here: https://lnkd.in/gDWyqp-V