The country's very first Nutrition Physiology Laboratory has been launched by the Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato T. dela Peña announced Friday, June 3.
In his weekly report, dela Peña shared that DOST-FNRI officially launched the lab on May 24 with the theme EMBodying (Energy, Metabolism, Body composition) Nutrition: Improving health and quality of life through a hybrid format with a total of more than 200 attendees.
The Nutrition Physiology Laboratory of DOST-FNRI is one of the outputs of the DOST- Grants-in-Aid funded R&D program titled “Healthy Aging Program for Pinoy (HAPPY) Senior Citizens”. The laboratory showcases the synergy of four key components of human nutrition research: metabolism, physical activity, body composition, and nutrition.
The laboratory will link all four research components using advanced technologies and equipment. Data generated from the laboratory is envisioned to shed more light on understanding the human body and how nutrition and physical activity contributes to improved health, functionality and quality of life of older Filipinos.
Given the importance of collaborations in reaching the full potential of the laboratory and making a difference in each respective field, the DOST-FNRI said that the following partners and stakeholders all shared their congratulations in using the laboratory facilities to better understand the human body and produce evidence-based programs and projects for improving nutrition, function, and quality of life, especially for the Filipino people:
- Prof. Lisette de Groot - Professor, Nutrition and Aging Wageningen University & Research
- Dr. Marco Mensink - Asst. Professor in Nutrition and Health Wageningen University & Research
- Dr. Shelley Ann de la Vega - Director Institute on Aging - UP NIH
- Ms. Zenaida Velasco - National President Nutritionist-Dietitians Association of the Philippines
- Ms. Honey Loveleen Bontile - Program Head Nutrition and Dietetics and Council of Deans and Heads of Nutrition and Dietetics Chair
- Coach Jeaneth Aro - Elite Nutrition Coach, Nutrition Coach of Tokyo Olympics medalists Hidilyn Diaz, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Eumir Marcial
A virtual walk tour option to view brief descriptions of the equipment, videos of the equipment in use, and links to the equipment respective websites were made available to participants who attended virtually.
Meanwhile, those who were present physically saw and tried out the various equipment for themselves.