NC State Plants for Human Health Institute

09/29/2026

We are excited to announce that Massimo Iorizzo has been named the new Director of NC State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute! A dedicated researcher in the field of plant genetics and nutritional genomics, he has served as PHHI’s Associate Director since 2024. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Iorizzo on this leadership appointment! Read more: https://cals.ncsu.edu/news/massimo-iorizzo-named-director-of-nc-states-plants-for-human-health-institute/

08/07/2026

Join us at Wolfpack Harvest September 19!

Wolfpack Harvest is a new fall tradition designed to bring together alumni, students, faculty and friends of CALS—not just in Raleigh, but wherever the Pack calls home. Join one of five, family-friendly events across the state on Sept. 19 to share stories, celebrate your journeys and reconnect with the Pack.

PHHI Extension will be at the Piedmont event with the Veggie Meter®. The Veggie Meter® measures the amount of carotenoids in a person's skin to help assess their consumption of fruits and vegetables. Think you can be the high scorer? Come to Wolfpack Harvest and find out!

Register today:

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

07/17/2026

In collaboration with Peruvian industry partners, Procesadora Tropical/Inka Crops, NC State Associate Professor, Marvin Moncada, Ph.D. CFS., has helped develop two high-value functional food ingredients, a syrup and flour, derived from plantain peels.

The Moncada Lab is always looking for innovations that support improved sustainability in agriculture and food, often starting from a "waste" byproduct. They call this approach "upcycling."

Read more about their latest project:

In collaboration with Peruvian industry partners, Procesadora Tropical/Inka Crops, NC State Associate Professor, Marvin Moncada, has helped develop two high-value functional food ingredients, a syrup and flour, derived from plantain peels.

07/07/2026

☀️ Can wild blueberries protect your skin against aging from the sun? ☀️
Researchers at the NC State University Plants for Human Health Institute in Kannapolis, NC, are looking for participants for a new study investigating the effects of dietary wild blueberry powder on mitigating UV-induced skin aging.
What is required?
📅 A 14-week study involving 1 consent/screening visit and 11 brief lab visits.
🥛 Consume a daily powder (wild blueberry or placebo) with breakfast.
🧬 Provide urine, stool, and non-invasive skin samples at select visits.
☀️ Receive a brief, controlled exposure to UV light on a small area of your forearm during the final 2 weeks.
Who can participate?
✔️ Men and women aged 30–50 who are generally healthy.
✔️ Non-smokers with no history of skin disease or unusual sensitivity to sunlight.
✔️ No use of tanning beds in the past 6 months.
✔️ No allergies to berries, medical adhesives or tapes.
✔️ Not currently taking antibiotics, hormone therapy or medicated arm creams.
💵 Compensation: Participants can receive up to $750 for completing the full study.
👉 Ready to see if you qualify? Take the quick pre-qualification survey here: https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4SjFglsxopyDwR8
🫐 Learn more: https://plantsforhumanhealth.ncsu.edu/join-a-study/wbana/
📞 Questions? Contact the study team at 704-250-5492 or email [email protected].

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07/07/2026

☀️ Can wild blueberries protect your skin against aging from the sun? ☀️

Researchers at the NC State University Plants for Human Health Institute in Kannapolis, NC, are looking for participants for a new study investigating the effects of dietary wild blueberry powder on mitigating UV-induced skin aging.

What is required?
📅 A 14-week study involving 1 consent/screening visit and 11 brief lab visits.
🥛 Consume a daily powder (wild blueberry or placebo) with breakfast.
🧬 Provide urine, stool, and non-invasive skin samples at select visits.
☀️ Receive a brief, controlled exposure to UV light on a small area of your forearm during the final 2 weeks.

Who can participate?
✔️ Men and women aged 30–50 who are generally healthy.
✔️ Non-smokers with no history of skin disease or unusual sensitivity to sunlight.
✔️ No use of tanning beds in the past 6 months.
✔️ No allergies to berries, medical adhesives or tapes.
✔️ Not currently taking antibiotics, hormone therapy or medicated arm creams.

💵 Compensation: Participants can receive up to $750 for completing the full study.

👉 Ready to see if you qualify? Take the quick pre-qualification survey here: https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4SjFglsxopyDwR8

🫐 Learn more: https://plantsforhumanhealth.ncsu.edu/join-a-study/wbana/

📞 Questions? Contact the study team at 704-250-5492 or email [email protected].

06/29/2026

Join a study! We are recruiting non-smoking men and women, ages 30-50, to evaluate the effects of dietary wild blueberry on UV-induced skin aging. Participants may be compensated up to $750. Click the link to do a quick pre-screen survey to see if you may be eligible. https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4SjFglsxopyDwR8
Learn more here: https://plantsforhumanhealth.ncsu.edu/join-a-study/wbana/

The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

05/23/2026

It is the last day of Lifestyle Medicine Week -- thank you for joining along! -- and the final topic is Connectedness 🫂 | 6/6

05/22/2026

It is Lifestyle Medicine Week and today the highlight is Stress Management! "Stress is a part of life, but how we think about it and respond to it can change how it affects our health and self-care" | 5/6

05/21/2026

Avoiding Risky Substances is an important aspect to maintaining your health and it is todays topic for Lifestyle Medicine Week 🍺🚫 | 4/6

05/20/2026

Restorative Sleep is the next topic for Lifestyle Medicine Week Check out these graphics for sleep tips and recommendations 😴😴 | 3/6