Research Projects & Grants

• Food Intake Pattern of Mexican American Women at the Inland Empire Community Health Center and a Scoring System Based on the Food Guide Pyramid: Their Association with Obesity, Role: Investigator, (09/1993 - 09/1994) Status: Completed

Federal

• Effect of Dally Consumption of Peanuts on Immune Function and Cardlometabolic Markers and Risk Factors In Free-living Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Role: Investigator, United States Department of Agriculture, (07/2023) Status: Approved
• Dietary and lifestyle predictors of lipoprotein(a) and homosysteine in AHS-2, Role: Principal Investigator, United States Department of Agriculture, (12/2011 - 05/2012) Status: Closed
• Plant-based diets and risk of cancer, Role: Co-Investigator, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (09/2011 - 08/2017) Status: Closed
• Cancer Epidemiology in Adventists - A Low Risk Group, Role: Co-investigator, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (07/2007 - 12/2008) Status: Closed

For Profit Organization

• Dietary factors associated with plasma plant sterol concentration, Role: Investigator, Unilever Research and Development Vlaardingen, (02/2019 - 02/2020) Status: Completed
• The effect of soy-based dietary supplements on cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals at high risk for cardiovascular disease, Role: Investigator, Soy Labs, (05/2017 - 05/2018) Status: Completed
• The acute effects of nut ingestion on plasma levels of nutrients, polyphenols and biomarkers of antioxidant status, Role: PI, National Pecan Shellers Association, (12/2011 - 12/2012) Status: Completed
• Effects of peanut and peanut butter consumption on blood lipids and glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes, Role: Investigator, National Peanut Board, (03/2011 - 02/2012) Status: Completed

Internal

• THE EFFECTS OF HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN 500 CALORIE DIET ON WEIGHT LOSS, ENERGY INTAKE, DIET COMPOSITION AND SUBJECTIVE FEELINGS OF HUNGER IN ADULT FEMALES, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Nutrition, (09/2020 - 04/2022) Status: Completed
• Vitamin B12 Biomarkers as Indicators of Cognitive Function in an Elderly Population, Role: Principal Investigator, LLU School of Public Health, (05/2015 - 04/2016) Status: Closed
• Urinary polyphenols as biomarker of polyphenol intake: AHS-2 calibration study cohort, Role: Principal Investigator, LLU Center for Health Research, (11/2014 - 10/2015) Status: Closed
• Obesity and Metabolic Disruption in Children Study (OyMeDiCS), Role: Co-Investigator, LLU School of Public Health, (08/2014 - 02/2018) Status: Closed
• Pilot study of health assessment for vitamin B6, vitamin B9/folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D in total vegetarian toddlers living in the United States, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Nutrition, (06/2012 - 06/2013) Status: Completed
• Eating behavior and menstrual symptoms in vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Nutrition, (02/2011) Status: Completed
• Effect of nutritional information availability on consumer behavior, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Nutrition, (02/2011) Status: Completed
• Religious beliefs and eating attitudes, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Nutrition, (04/2010) Status: Completed
• The effect of soymilk and cow's milk on blood glucose level in healthy women, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Nutrition, (07/2009 - 07/2010) Status: Completed
• Breakfast eating habits of LLU students, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Nutrition, (07/2009) Status: Completed
• The influence of familism on descriptive and injuctive norms in predicting the intention to eat a vegetarian diet among Chinese Seventh-day Adventists, Role: Investigator, LLU School of Public Health, (11/2007) Status: Completed
• Zinc nutritional status and immune function of total vegetarians, lactoovovegetarians and omnivores, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (09/1998 - 09/1999) Status: Completed
• Predicting healthy eating and regular exercise among Hispanic and Caucasian adolescents using the Theory of Planned Behavior, Role: PI, LLU School of Allied Health Professionals, (04/1997) Status: Completed

Non-Profit Organization

• The effect of Macadamia nuts on Cardiometabolic risk factors and Adiposity: A randomized intervention study, Role: Investigator, Horticulture Innovation Australia, (09/2024 - 09/2025) Status: Approved
• The effect of a fermented soy-based dietary food product on cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals at high risk for cardiovascular disease, Role: Investigator, BESO - Biological Research Inc, (01/2023 - 12/2023) Status: Completed
• Immune benefits of Blueberry consumption and response to influenza vaccination in overweight older men and postmenopausal women: A randomized trial, Role: Investigator, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, (08/2022) Status: Approved
• Effect of Daily Consumption of Almonds on Immune Strength and Response to Flu Vaccination in overweight Middle-aged Men: A Randomized Controlled Study, Role: Investigator, Almond Board of California, (07/2021) Status: Approved
• Effect of a fermented soy product on cognition, immune status and response to influenza vaccine in elderly men and women, Role: Investigator, BESO - Biological Research Inc, (05/2021) Status: Approved
• Effect of a Fermented Soy Product on Cognition, Immune Status and Response to Influenza Vaccine in Elderly Men and Women, Role: Co-PD/PI, BESO - Biological Research Inc, (11/2020 - 08/2025) Status: Awarded
• Avocado and visceral fat: a multi-center intervention trial, Role: Biochemist, Hass Avocado Board, (12/2017 - 12/2024) Status: Awarded
• The effect of fermented soy-based food product on cardio-metabolic risk factors in individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease, Role: Co-Investigator, BESO - Biological Research Inc, (09/2017 - 02/2021) Status: Closed
• Incorporating avocados in meals: Effect on glycemic index, insulin response, satiety and satiety-related gastrointestinal peptides in humans, Role: Investigator, Hass Avocado Board, (07/2017 - 07/2018) Status: Completed
• Data Mining the Adventist Health Study-2 Information for Nut Consumption and Health Outcomes, Role: Other, International Tree Nut Council, (07/2011 - 10/2013) Status: Closed
• The effects of consumption of California dried mission figs on serum lipid concentrations in hyperlipidemic adults, Role: Investigator, California Fig Advisory Board, (10/2010 - 10/2011) Status: Completed
• Effects of feeding regular eggs, omega-3 eggs, and walnuts on serum lipids, membrane incorporation of essential fats, thromboxane and serum lutein levels, in free-living lacto-ovo vegetarians, Role: Investigator, American Egg Board, (08/2004 - 08/2005) Status: Completed
• Developing a valid screening tool for assessing nutritional adequacy and osteoporosis among vegans in the United States, Role: Investigator, McClean Endowment Research Fund, (05/2004 - 05/2005) Status: Completed
• Peer nutrition education: a model for nutrition education among Spanish-speaking WIC participants, Role: Investigator, California Wellness Foundation, (12/1998 - 12/1999) Status: Completed
• Smart moves -- a weight and fitness program for adolescents, Role: PI, California Wellness Foundation, (02/1996) Status: Completed
• The Nutrition Heart Health Directive, Role: Investigator, Heart Institute of the Desert, (02/1996) Status: Completed

State

• Effects or walnuts on innate, acquired and gut immunity in older adults with overweight: A randomized controlled trial, Role: Investigator, California Walnut Commission, (03/2023) Status: Approved
• Comparing different types of n-3 fatty acids (ALA vs EPA/DHA) on selected coronary heart disease risk factors in healthy adults, Role: Investigator, Center for Health and Nutrition Research - UC Davis, (01/2017 - 01/2018) Status: Completed
• Effect of Walnut Consumption on HDL Function: Loma Linda University Contribution, Role: Co-PD/PI, California Walnut Commission, (05/2013 - 12/2014) Status: Closed
• Postprandial Effects of Walnut Ingestion on Plasma Concentrations of Nutrients, Polyphenolic Compounds and Biomarkers of Antioxidant Status in Human Volunteers, Role: Principal Investigator, California Walnut Commission, (10/2010 - 03/2012) Status: Closed
• Effect of Walnuts Compared to Fish on Selected Markers of Bone Formation and Resorption, Role: Co-PD/PI, California Walnut Commission, (10/2009 - 06/2010) Status: Closed
• The effect of walnuts compared to fish on lipids and fatty acids in blood, Role: Investigator, California Walnut Commission, (01/2005 - 01/2006) Status: Completed