USDA launches virtual health center to accelerate research on chronic diet-related disease

08 Dec 2022 --- The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has unveiled its virtual Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet for Better Health (Ascend for Better Health), connecting scientists, partner organizations and communities to develop solutions that improve citizens’ health and well-being.

“We recognize that when it comes to using food and nutrition to improve health-related outcomes for individuals, we cannot take a one size fits all approach,” Tara Weaver-Missick, communications director for research, education, and economics at USDA, tells NutritionInsight.

“We know that people respond differently to food. We also know that food selection is a complex process influenced by many factors, including food availability, economics and our cultural and social contexts.”

The virtual center will accelerate research on diet-related chronic diseases, including cancer. A long-term goal of the center is to translate research into impactful solutions that improve public health and well-being, particularly in underserved communities.

“The bottom line is that we need to develop a more precise understanding of how we interact with food, what factors influence our food choices, and how our genetics and environment lead to specific health-related outcomes,” explains Weaver-Missick.

Enhancing precision nutrition research
There are three key focus areas of Ascend for Better Health, including research, data and community engagement. Each area has a leadership team composed of representatives from various agencies across the government. 

“What is unique about Ascend for Better Health is the coordination it provides across the federal government to bring together the expertise and resources needed to conduct and translate precision nutrition research to the public,” notes Weaver-Missick.

The initiative coordinates activities across teams to shorten the pipeline between the research and at-risk communities. In addition, the USDA is enhancing its research focus on precision nutrition science to better understand the needs of underserved communities. 

Progress on precision nutrition research will also be shared along with relevant federal funding opportunities and challenges for engaging with at-risk populations.A primary goal of the Ascend virtual center is to translate research into solutions that improve public health.

The research complements the organization’s programmatic efforts to advance food and nutrition security. By definition, this means consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe and affordable foods essential to optimal health and well-being.

“Ascend will partner with Southern University in Baton Rouge to host a community engagement session focused on diet-related health disparities in African-Americans on January 31, 2023. The event is open to the public, and people will be able to sign up through the engagement section of the website,” adds Weaver-Missick. 

The USDA recently unveiled its Action on Nutrition Security program as the country grappled with poor nutrition as a leading cause of death and high food insecurity.

Experts convene on nutrition directive
As part of the launch, the USDA convened a panel of experts to discuss nutrition’s role in improving overall health and reducing risks for diet-related chronic diseases.

According to the World Cancer Research Fund, 30-50% of all cancer cases are preventable by following a healthy diet and lifestyle. The USDA is applying an equity lens to its ongoing research to understand the connections between diet and diseases across different populations.

The project was created in support of US President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot effort to end cancer. It delivers on a commitment made in the Biden-Harris administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030.

Recently, the USDA presented a US$40 million budget for a nutritional management plan after lawmakers passed the Inflation Reduction Act. The proposal aims to improve the quality of agriculture in terms of efficiency, environmental sustainability and monetary terms, leaving a long-term impact on nutrition.

By Inga de Jong