The 19th Annual Russell Klein Nutrition Research Symposium was held April 6th at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. Nutrition professionals were in attendance along with graduate students and faculty members from the Department of Animal Sciences, Department of Human Nutrition, and the College of Medicine. Ali Nazmi, Ph.D, Assistant Profesor with the Department of Animal Sciences was one of this years keynote speakers along with Satchin Panda, Ph.D, and Semir Beyaz, Ph.D.
Rui Zheng, advised by Sheila Jacobi, received 3rd place in the Russell Klein Nutrition Research Symposium Poster Competition, Molecular/Basic Science category.
Rui Zheng is a Ph.D. candidate in the OSU Interdisciplinary Nutrition program. She conducts research in nutritional regulation of swine growth, gut health, and well-being. She has a master’s degree in Animal Science and Technology from China Agricultural University, where she screened and characterized mycotoxin degrading bacteria for use in animal feed safety. Her Ph.D. research focuses on the effects of dietary bioactive lipids on gut health and immunological response following challenge in porcine intestinal cell cultures and the suckling piglet. She presented her research on the effects of dietary milk fat globule membrane supplementation on lipopolysaccharide challenged piglet intestinal health at the Russell Klein Nutrition Research Symposium in April. The information gained in that study will provide preliminary data to support mechanisms of dietary MFGM in improving neonatal intestinal function and modulating gut-brain communication in early life. Upon graduation this year in December, she plans to pursue a faculty job and work closely with the feed industry.