1. Plants for Human Health Institute NC State University at the
NC Research Campus
Mission Statement
Leading the discovery and delivery of innovative plant-based solutions to advance human health

2. David H. Murdock Research Institute
NC Research Campus
Academic Partners
North Carolina State University
Plants for Human Health Institute
UNC Chapel Hill
Nutrition Research Institute
UNC Charlotte
Bioinformatics Services Division
UNC Greensboro
Center for Translational Biomedical Research
Duke University
Clinical and Translational Science Institute
North Carolina Central University
Nutrition Research Program
North Carolina A&T State University
Center for Excellence in Post-Harvest Technologies
Appalachian State University
Human Performance Laboratory
Rowan Cabarrus Community College
Biotechnology Training Center
Academic Partners
Corporate Partners
Corporate Partners
LabCorp
Dole
General Mills
EnDev Laboratories
Sensory Spectrum
Cabarrus Health Alliance
Carolinas Health Care System
David H. Murdock Research Institute

3. DISCOVERY
Improving the nutritive and bioactive properties of plant foods (focus on fruits and vegetables), using a portfolio of strategies from classical breeding to systems biology.

4. NC Research Campus
DELIVERY: Extension Specialists dedicated to the dissemination of PHHI research
Program creation and materials to support community and statewide health initiatives.
Direct collaboration with PHHI Research Faculty and other NCRC onsite partner institutes to enhance the reach of program awareness and consumer knowledge.
Focusing on Public Health, K-12 STEM Education, Horticultural Entrepreneurship and Business Development.

5. PHHI Budget Growth
* Supported collaborative projects with main campus faculty in research areas of interest

6. Supporting CALS Five Core Strategic Themes
Enhancing the production, quality, accessibility and profitability of food, plant, animal and bioenergy products for North Carolina, the nation and the world;
Ensuring environmental stewardship and sustainability of air, land, soil and water resources;
Creating a food supply that is safe, secure, healthy, affordable and of high quality;
Improving human health and well-being for individuals, families and communities; and
Preparing students and stakeholders for leadership and success in the global workforce.

7. Seed Grant Initiatives & Collaborations
Horticultural Science
Plant and Microbial Biology
Food Bioprocessing and
Nutrition Sciences
Plant Pathology
Animal Science
Biological Sciences
Molecular and Structural Biology
Cooperative Extension
Functional genomics and functional phenotyping of blueberry fruits
Development and analysis of hypoallergenic polyphenol-edible protein matrices using translational models
Bitter-tasting prebiotics for gastrointestinal and metabolic health
“Hopportunity”: Metabolite and transcriptional profiling to identify regulation of specialized metabolism in hop (Humulus Iupulus)
Black Raspberry: Investigating a unique N.C. fruit from genomics to human health

8. Industry Collaboration
The Plant Pathways Elucidation Project (P2EP) is a dynamic $3.5 million program that engages college students from across North Carolina in a first- of-its-kind education & research endeavor.
Program Goals
Educational opportunity
Scientific discovery
Knowledge base creation
Based at the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis
Mapping plant pathways for blueberries, broccoli, oats, strawberries, bananas and pineapple.
10 PhD Students
101 undergraduate interns from 17 colleges and universities since 2013

9. Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences
DR. MARY ANN LILA – PHYTOCHEMISTRY (FY09)
Biologically-active compounds stably captured in shelf stable versatile food matrices.
Biofortified phytochemically-enriched food ingredients prepared from fruit source (i.e. Kale, Muscadine)
Phytochemical characterization of wild Alaskan blueberries and cranberries.
Testing anti-inflammatory activity of Alaskan berry extracts and enriched fractions.
DR. SLAVKO KOMARNYTSKY – PHARMACOGENOMICS (FY12)
Role of diet and nutrition in prevention of metabolic diseases and inflammation
When treated with natural anti-inflammatory diterpenoid (triptolide), diet induced obese mice do not develop diabetes.
Natural steroids present in green leafy vegetables like spinach and cabbage promote muscle health.

10. Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences
DR. MARIO FERRUZZI, TRANSLATIONAL NUTRITION (FY17)
Exploring the role of the food matrix in delivery of micronutrients and phytochemicals.
Discovering the interactions between plant phytochemicals and macro-nutrients (proteins and carbohydrates) and their impact to product quality and health promoting properties in humans.
Developing insights into the role these interactions play in modifying nutrient availability, gut microbial communities and markers of disease.
DR. COLIN KAY, TRANSLATIONAL NUTRITION (FY16)
Identifying metabolites of berry consumption as biomarkers of intake and active compounds for the prevention of disease.
Nutritional biochemistry and human vascular interventions and controlled dietary feeding trials.
Utilizes human and cell-based studies to investigate the effects of diet on disease.

11. Plant Microbial and Biological Sciences
DR. XU “SIRIUS” LI - PLANT METABOLIC PATHWAY ENGINEERING (FY12)
Harnessing natural variation in plant secondary metabolism for gene and pathway discovery.
Model plant Arabidopsis can be translated to the closely related vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage.
DR. TZUNG FU HSIEH – SYSTEM BIOLOGY (FY13)
Genomic and epigenetic approaches to elucidate regulation of key plant developmental and metabolic pathways.
Epigenetic regulation of genomic imprinting.
Active DNA demethylation in plant reproduction.
Tissue/cell type specific transcriptome and methylome.
Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.
Genomic-assisted gene discovery in important crop species.

12. Horticultural Science
DR. PENELOPE PERKINS-VEAZIE, POSTHARVEST PHYSIOLOGY (FY09)
Release of New Blackberry “VON” based on High Quality and shelf life
Testing Mango and Watermelon (as Freeze Dried Powders) for altered glucose metabolism and slowed osteoporosis in Clinical Trials
Testing of NC Watermelons for Citrulline content (Vasodilator) and improved shelf life from grafting
DR. MASSIMO IORIZZO, BERRY GENOMICS (FY15)
Focusing on plant breeding and genomics to improve nutritional value of small fruit and vegetables
Understanding the genetic mechanisms controlling the accumulation and diversification of health promoting phytochemicals in small fruits and vegetables
Goals to establish cost effective breeding and genomics strategies to develop new varieties or natural products with improved nutritional value.

13. Animal Science DR. DEBORA ESPOSITO, REGENERATIVE MEDICINE (FY17)
Inflammation and tissue regeneration as it applies to wound healing and skin care
Cell-based biological screening in conventional, 3D matrices, and stem culture technologies
Muscle aging and repair
DR. GIUSEPPE VALACCHI, REGENERATIVE MEDICINE (FY17)
Evaluating the effect of exogenous and endogenous sources of oxidative stress on target organs
Identifying signal pathways involved in the cellular responses to these insults with special focus on epithelial wound healing
Discovering how new topical approaches (derived from natural compounds) can ameliorate wound healing and tissue regeneration in both physiological and pathological
situations