The Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington hosted the inaugural Emerging Luminaries in Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism Symposium September 26-27, 2019. The goal of the symposium was to highlight up-and-coming scholars in the areas of nutrition, exercise, and metabolism.

It also afforded an excellent opportunity for these researchers to see first-hand the exceptional breadth and depth of research opportunities, collaboration potential, and faculty excellence on the Indiana University Bloomington campus and at the Indiana University School of Public Health.

The 1.5-day symposium consisted of a multi-sector panel discussion and a keynote address,“Trends in Nutrition: The Promise, the Reality, and Research Ideas” by Allison Miner Ed.D., R.D. The distinguished panelists include Jessica Donze Black, M.P.H., R.D., American Heart Association; Richard Black, Ph.D., Tufts Nutrition Council; Steven Blair, P.E.D., University of South Carolina; Paul Coates, Ph.D., National Institutes of Health; and Alison Steiber, R.D.N., Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The symposium also featured innovative 5-minute lightning talks from 26 emerging scholars showcasing their latest research. Part of the program also included the announcement of the Grant Proposal Partnership Challenge Prize.

David Allison, Dean of the Indiana University School of Public Health, noted, “We are thrilled to have these emerging luminaries in nutrition, exercise, and metabolism and our extraordinary distinguished guests join us from around the country to see the excellence offered at Indiana University Bloomington and to stimulate research through the announcement of Grant Proposal Partnership Challenge Prize.”

The Grant Proposal Partnership Challenge Prize was created as a funding opportunity open to all invited emerging luminaries who attended the Emerging Luminaries Symposium. Using the funds, the awardee(s) will partner with faculty from any department within the IU School of Public Health–Bloomington to collaborate on extramural federal (e.g., NIH; NSF) grant applications to be submitted to the funding agency by end of July 2020. Their grant application is to be consistent with the mission of the NIH and should be poised to advance fundamental knowledge to promote human health, extend life, and reduce disability. Applicant teams will be notified in early March 2020 of the status of their application.

The symposium is sponsored by the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington with unrestricted support from our generous sponsors.