Langkamp-Henken Wins National Nutrition Award

By:
Carole L. Jaworski

Source:
Bobbi Langkamp-Henken, (352) 392-1991, ext. 205

GAINESVILLE – Bobbi Langkamp-Henken, assistant professor in the University of Florida’s Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, is the recipient of one of four 1998-99 Future Leader awards from the North American branch of the International Life Sciences Institute.

International Life Sciences Future Leader award winners are chosen primarily for their promise as leaders in the field of nutrition. Each award provides a grant of $15,000 per year for a period of two years. The awards allow researchers to conduct exploratory research that might not otherwise receive funding.

Langkamp-Henken’s research will examine how age and stress affect arginine’s function on the immune system. Arginine is an amino acid that appears to enhance immune function and wound healing in the young. She will be the first to look at its effect on wounds in elderly populations.

“This research is important because the immune function decreases as we age, resulting in an increased incidence of infection,” Langkamp-Henken said. “If we can boost immune function, or prevent the decline in immune function, we may be able to improve quality of life and save health care dollars.”

Langkamp-Henken holds a bachelor’s degree in clinical dietetics and biology from Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, and a doctorate in physiology from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, where she also did postdoctoral work in immunology.

She joined the faculty of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in 1994.

The three other national award winners were Karen Houseknecht, Purdue University; Rodney Johnson, University of Indiana, Urbana; and Dirk Schroeder, Emory University.

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Posted: March 10, 1998


Category: UF/IFAS



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