FFH 2023 Seed Grants Awarded

Each year, FFH invites its affiliate community to submit research proposals that further the mission of the initiative. The ultimate goal of the seed grant program is to enable the formation of interdisciplinary teams and provide them with resources that allow them to elevate their impact through publications, extramural funding, and other scholarly activities.  

This year’s funded projects include:

Bioactive Phytochemical Enhancement in Arugula Using Hydroponic Production Methods
Jessica Cooperstone (PI, Horticulture & Crop Science/Food Science & Technology)
Chieri Kubota (Horticulture & Crop Science)
Aaron Wiedemer (Food Science & Technology)

Adipocyte Extracellular Vesicles Promote Atherosclerosis in Obesity
Willa Hseuh (PI, Internal Medicine)
Eduardo Reátegui (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering)

Dietary Impact on Phagocytic & Mitochondrial Function of Brain Cells From Young Adult and Aged Rats
Ruth Barrientos (PI, Psychiatry & Behavioral Health)
Kedryn Baskin (Physiology & Cell Biology)

Taste and Tactile Underpinnings of Picky Eating
Chris Simons (PI, Food Science & Technology)
Praveen Goday (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)

FFH has invested a total of $935,000 in seed grants since 2016, which has directly enabled over $6 million in extramural funding, 11 peer-reviewed publications, and 20 presentations. Collectively, these seed projects span more than 15 departments and 6 colleges including Arts & Sciences, Food & Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Public Health, and Education & Human Ecology.

FFH Expanded its research focus in 2020 to better address the food-nutrition-health continuum. Over the past three years, projects from diverse areas have been funded to reflect the three research pillars of the initiative: Crop & Food Improvement, Precision Nutrition, and Food Choice & Ingestive Behaviors with a cross-cutting theme of multi-omic analysis.

Questions about FFH research investments can be directed to Dr. Matt Teegarden (teegarden.3@osu.edu).