Bionutrition Research Core

Impact

Precision Nutrition is an NIH priority: We have the tailored knowledge, expertise and infrastructure to support nutrition research across the research and cancer continuum. The BRC offers support from study design, grant and protocol development to data collection with trained interviewers or web-enabled tools and individualized nutrition counseling with registered dietitians, to the end-result of nutrient and dietary pattern data ready for analyses with biological markers and outcomes.

Eating habits are a form of high-dimensional data: The BRC provides or can train study staff on use of validated methods and tools to capture dietary data in free-living individuals who eat unique foods and recipes that define their overall habits and nutrient intake. We utilize specialized computer software to collect dietary data, derive nutrient values and design metabolic meals and study menus in diet interventions. Appropriate data collection and processing, including advanced statistical analysis using nutritional epidemiology methods, is essential to generate accurate data at both the individual and group level. 

Human feeding studies parallel pre-clinical designs: Through the BRC research kitchen facility, we conduct precise diet manipulation in short-term, but intensive, human feeding trials to measure biological or clinical effects or pharmacokinetics. We have the ability to facilitate double blinding in randomized controlled trials with two experienced research dietitians working with an in-house chef. Menu adjustments can be made to accommodate study participants’ shifting needs or side effects, while adhering to protocol-specific diet and maintaining safety and overall research objectives. 

Getting Started 

New users are encouraged to reach out to us early in the research planning process. Please contact us at brc@mdanderson.org with questions or to set up a free consultation.