NC Research Campus
Steven Zeisel, MD, PhD
By George MacBain
                   
Today, we had a visit from Steven Zeisel, MD, PhD and the recently named Director of the UNC School of Public Health's Nutrition Institute in Kannapolis, NC. Dr. Zeisel conducts active research programs that include: clinical research studies on nutrient requirements, nutrigenomics, molecular nutrition, brain development and human requirements for the nutrient choline. Dr. Zeisel gave us an overview of the campus and the theme/focus of the campus for years to come.
  
The 350 acre project is the vision of financier David Murdock, the billionaire owner of Dole Foods. He quotes, "The Research Campus will be a thriving scientific community where the best minds will shape the way we understand nutrition and its relationship to disease." He purchased the former Cannon Mills site, demolished the former mill buildings and has personally spent $500 million dollars on the infrastructure, several research buildings and equipment with the budget of another $500 million over the next 5 years. The campus currently includes the 300,000sf David H. Murdock Research Institute (DHMRI) housing the world's largest Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer (NMR, basically a powerful magnet used in research); the Plants for Human Health Institute, which is the home of NC State University research and the Dole Research Institute; and the 125,000sf UNC Nutrition Research Institute. Other facilities, including greenhouses, growing fields, the Duke University building, and the Medical Office Building will be completed over the next 2 years.
  
The theme/focus of the campus is to be home of world class nutritional studies supported by Murdock, North Carolina and the world's best scientific minds in their fields. The UNC Institute now has 4 of a maximum 18 scientists and their staffs working at the institute. Dr. Zeisel shared that the field of nutrition today just gives average advice to the general population on what one should do metabolically to avoid or improve a situation relating to ones health. Example was eating too much salt can cause high blood pressure so the general public is cautioned to avoid using to much salt. The facts are only 10% of the population will experience high blood pressure from salt, but we are not yet able to determine who is part of the 10% and who is not. The Institute will do research that will enable doctors to understand individual differences in metabolism and nutrient requirements and create recommendations based on these unique traits; thereby allowing us to find out whether or not we are one of the 10% for whom salt triggers high blood pressure. We each have 50,000 genetic mistakes or 'misspellings' in our genetic code called SNPs. As scientists learn to understand these mistakes, they can create a personalized plan to address some of our greatest public health concerns, like cancer and obesity, and improve brain development and function through nutrition. This was a really good news story about how we will all benefit in the future with more personalized health information and how it might affect many industries that would benefit from having this information. Dr.Zeisel invited us all to call their office for a tour.
      
   
Head Table: Arch McIntosh, Craig Simpson, Mac McCarley, Jim Woodward, Roberta Smith, Alan Simonini;
Invocation: Jill Santuccio;
Visitors & Guests: Elsie Garner; Health & Happiness: Leland Park; Song: Biff Virkler; Piano: Thomas Moore; Photos: Bert Voswinkel

• Lila Rash begins chemo on Wednesday and John Johnson continues radiation treatments. Best wishes and prayers! As far as we know, Lee Morris is doing well from his knee surgery.
          
• Click here to review the schedule and volunteer to work on the Habitat for Humanity project that begins on March 19th. Heads up: the timeframe and days are different from previous years, with some of the work scheduled on Wednesday or Thursday. Tim Newman is coordinating this effort and will be glad to answer any questions you might have.
  
• Remember to check the Host Dinner schedule. On board: 3/7/09 Chuck Cocke; 3/21/09 Bill Staton; 3/28/09 Lynn Wheeler. Reserve your spot here.

Help...Help...Help. The Youth Exchange Committee needs a host family for Luciano during March, April, and May (and possibly the early part of June). If you are able to provide lodging or need additional information, please contact Lamar Thomas (704-372-8615) or Luther Moore (704-426-8403).

John Tabor updated club members on the effort to reach the all-time contribution of $1M to The Rotary Foundation. A very generous Rotarian has put up a $5000 donation to be used for match money to help the club reach its goal. And the deal is: if you have never given, your $500 contribution will be matched with $500 for your first Paul Harris Fellow. If you are on your way, we will match you to complete your first or next PHF. If you have $400 already contributed and are willing to contribute another $300, we will match you $300. Questions - contact John at jtabor@designstrategies.net or 704-344-8540. Balance to date: $984,754.

The inaugural Flight of Honor is set for Saturday, April 18 at 9:00 AM. 120 veterans, 39 guardians and 21 support/medical personnel will be flying out of Charlotte International Airport and arriving at Reagan National Airport, where they will be loaded on busses to visit the Memorials (WWII, Korean and Vietnam) and Arlington Cemetery. Volunteers are needed to serve as greeters, help with registration and waivers, and handing out hats, pins, coffee and donuts. Volunteers are also needed for the Welcome Home Ceremony when the flight returns. If you are able to participate in any way, please contact Tom Burgess (tnburgess@bellsouth.net) or Sandy Osborne (chltrot@bellsouth.net). Donations are also needed and you can sponsor a vet for $500. Checks are payable to Rotary Flight of Honor and mailed to P. O. Box 495, Gastonia, NC 28053.