Current Projects

Mothers’ And Their Children’s Health (MATCH) Study

The Mothers’ and their Children’s Health Study aims to understand the risks of child health and development and help guide health policies for families. Here at Northeastern’s Dietary Assessment Center, we collect data of telephone 24 hour recalls from children with their mothers’ help from California. We ask them what they specifically ate including the preparation, the amount, time, and location of where they ate. We then analyze the data using the Minnesota Nutritional Data System for Research (NDSR), which creates various nutritional reports. Finally, we send the results back to the Department of Preventive Medicine Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California.

Estudio PARTO

The Estudio PARTO is a randomized controlled trial on postpartum diabetes prevention program for Hispanic women with abnormal glucose tolerance in pregnancy. Here at Northeastern’s Dietary Assessment Center, we collect data of telephone 24 hour recalls from the Hispanic women. We ask them what they specifically ate such as the amount, time, and location. We then analyze the data using the Minnesota Nutritional Data System for Research (NDSR). The results will be used to translate into clinical practice.

Proyecto Mamá

The Proyecto Mamá study is a randomized controlled trial on a lifestyle prevention in overweight and obese Hispanic women.  Women will be randomized to either a wellness group or a lifestyle intervention group. Women in the lifestyle group will receive counseling during pregnancy to seek the best way for them to increase their daily activity and adjust their diet so they are able to return to a healthy weight. Here at the Dietary Assessment Center, we ask them what they specifically ate such as the amount, time, and location. We then analyze the data using the Minnesota Nutritional Data System for Research (NDSR). We send the results back to UMASS Amherst to reach the goal of tailoring a weight-loss plan to the individual woman, so she can lose weight in a way that fits her life

Baltimore Longitudinal Study (BLSA)

Started in 1958, the Baltimore Longitudinal Study is America’s longest-running scientific study of human aging. Here at the Dietary Assessment Center, we receive completed Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ). The self-administered FFQ booklet asks participants to report the frequency of consumption and portion size of 125 line items over a defined period of time. We analyze the FFQ booklets and send the results back. The results are used to help distinguish changes due to normal aging and those due to disease or other causes.

D2D2: Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes

The D2D2 study is a large multi-center clinical trial conducted in 22 cities around the U.S., including Boston. There are about 2,400 participants who are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Here at the Dietary Assessment Center, we receive completed Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ). The self-administered FFQ booklet asks participants to report the frequency of consumption and portion size of 125 line items over a defined period of time. We analyze the FFQ booklets and send the results back. The results will help define the role of vitamin D supplementation in modifying diabetes risk.

National Human Genome Research Institute

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) was established originally as the National Center for Human Genome Research in 1989 to lead the International Human Genome Project. NHGRI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the nation’s medical research agency. The Human Genome Project, which had as its primary goal the sequencing of the 3 billion DNA letters that make up the human genetic instruction book, was successfully completed in April 2003. Here at the Dietary Assessment Center, we received FFQ booklets. We again analyze them and send the results back to help establish genomic information to advance medical care.