U of I Faculty Receive Grants to Collaborate with Colleagues in Mexico
Published: Apr. 10, 2008
URBANA - Five projects were awarded grants through the University of Illinois's College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) partnership with the Mexican government through the CONACYT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología).
Elvira de Mejia, Associate Professor in Food Science and Human Nutrition in the College of ACES and principal investigator for the program, said, "The aim of the University of Illinois/CONACYT program is to enhance teaching, research, and cultural education to meet Mexico's needs and to build a wider bridge and strengthen the mutual understanding between the United States and Mexico."
Beginning in 2008, the following U of I ACES faculty members will each receive $8,000 to work on projects with Mexican colleagues:
Karen Chapman-Novakofski (U of I ACES Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition) and Eugenia Garay-Garay (University of Guanajuato): The relationship between dietary advanced glycation end products and indicators of diabetes severity in Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites. This project will help generate a better understanding of the role genetics and/or Mexican foods play in diabetes development in these populations
Mike Ellis (U of I ACES Department of Animal Sciences) and José Antonio Cuarón Ibarguengoytia (Centro Nacional de Investigacion en Fisiologia Animal): Nutritional improvement of the eating quality of pork. This project will look at the intramuscular fat in modern lines of pigs. The topic was inspired by consumer concerns regarding reduced eating quality.
Mosbah Kushad (U of I ACES Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences) and Elhadi Yahia (Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro): Resveratrol isoforms in light and dark grape cultivars grown in Illinois and Mexico. Resveratrol has been identified as nutritional source, found in grapes (in addition to anti-oxidants) providing numerous health benefits including better defense against various types of cancers, and a significant reduction in the risk for heart disease. They will characterize certain biological aspects of resveratrol and, in the future, analyze environmental conditions and post-harvest handling to provide grape growers the necessary tools and information to be as efficient as possible and to promote the natural, positive benefits of grapes.
Mary Ann Lila (U of I ACES Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences) and Pedro Garcia Saucedo (University of Michoacan): Physiochemical analysis of wild blackberries from Michoacan, Mexico, for value-added breeding potential. When berries are not in season from the Pacific Northwest, many berries are imported from Mexico. Prior research revealed enhanced antioxidant potential especially for wild berries found in the high elevation areas in the Michoacan region of Mexico. This project aims to obtain commercially attractive, health-promoting Mexican varieties well-adapted to the unique climatic conditions of Michoacan in hopes of successfully supplying the demand of consumers.
Michael J. Miller (U of I ACES Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition) and Silvia Lorena Amaya Llano (Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro): Characterization of a Mexican-style fresh cheese made with probiotics and resistant starch. Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed. The importance of probiotic-containing products for maintaining health and well-being is becoming a key factor affecting consumer choice. Panela cheese, a Mexican-style fresh cheese, is a staple food in Mexico yet it lacks any probiotic microorganisms. The aim of this investigation was to manufacture and evaluate a Mexican fresh cheese (Panela) made with probiotic bacteria and resistant starch (RS).
The U of I/CONACYT relationship began in 2005. During the five year-program, 50 Mexican Ph.D. students will receive advanced degree training at the University of Illinois and encourage, through grants, collaborative research projects in the areas of food and agricultural biotechnology. The partnership also hopes to increase the quality and quantity of collaborative research and stimulate the creation of multidisciplinary research projects that will mutually benefit the state of Illinois and the country of Mexico.
Faculty members who may be interested in hosting a fully-supported CONACYT scholar for a Ph.D. program of study are encouraged contact the ACES Global Connect Office (heap@uiuc.edu) for information about topic areas and past projects, or to visit this site to learn more about CONACYT opportunities: http://www.fshn.uiuc.edu/CONACYTInformation.html.
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