By: Alissa Smethers, MS, RD, LDN
Hello, March! Hopefully spring is right around the corner. This month’s Research Corner Spotlight comes from Qian Jia PhD, RD, LDN from Immaculata University. Read below to hear more about this RD’s nutrition journey and research contributions.
Where do you live currently? Is there anything you love about where you’re located?
Lafayette Hill; It is a small and peaceful town with many grocery stores and only a few fast food stores.
Where are you from originally?
China. I went to Texas A&M for graduate school in 2005, and then moved to Pennsylvania in 2011.
I noticed you’re currently an Assistant Professor at Immaculata University, what are you currently working on/researching?
I am a full-time faculty and graduate program director here. My current research projects include: 1) investigating student hunger on campus and the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among college students; 2) determining the prevalence and correlates of disordered eating behaviors in college students; 3) investigating the impact of dinning environment on food choice and dietary intake of college students; 4) investigating the effect of risk communication to promote behavior changes for cardiovascular health in medically underserved patients; 5) studying the impact of healthy food supply combined with a systemic nutrition education on cardiovascular health of low income adults.
Where did you go to school? College, internship, etc.
I studied for my Ph.D. in nutrition at Texas A&M University (TAMU) 2006-2011, and attended TAMU DI in 2011.
Have you published anything professionally?
Yes, see the list below.
Xianhua Li, Yanhong Liu, Qian Jia, Virginia LaMacchia, Kathryn O’Donoghue, Zuyi Huang. A systems-biology approach to investigate the antimicrobial activity of Oleuropein. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, 2016;43(12):1705-17
Zuyi Huang, Qian Jia, Thomas K. Wood. “Use of Omic Technologies for in Silico Modeling to Understand E. coli Physiology and to Develop Novel therapeutics,” Pathogenic E. coli: Evolution, Omics, Detection, and Control, Caister Academic Press/Horizon Scientific Press, in press, 2016 (Invited contribution).
Qian Jia, Jennifer M. Monk, Evelyn S. Callaway, Brad R. Weeks, Robert C. Alaniz, David N. McMurray and Robert S. Chapkin. n-3 PUFA decrease Th17 cell accumulation in chronic dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. J Nutr. 2012;142(1):117-24
Qian Jia, Ivan Ivanov, Zamir Z. Zlatev, Robert C. Alaniz, Brad R. Weeks, Evelyn S. Callaway, Jennifer S. Goldsby, Laurie A. Davidson, Yang-Yi Fan, Joanne R. Lupton, David N. McMurray and Robert S. Chapkin. Dietary fish oil and curcumin combine to modulate colonic cytokinetics and gene expression in dextran sodium sulphate-treated mice. Br J Nutr. 2011; 106(4):519-29
Qian Jia, Joanne R. Lupton, Roger Smith, Brad R. Weeks, Evelyn S. Callaway, Laurie A. Davidson, Wooki Kim, Yang-Yi Fan, Peiying Yang, Robert A. Newman, Jing X. Kang, David N. McMurray and Robert S. Chapkin. Reduced colitis-associated colon cancer in fat-1 (n-3 fatty acid desaturase) transgenic mice. Cancer Res. 2008; 68(10):3985-91
Yang-Yi Fan, Wooki Kim, Evelyn S. Callaway, Roger Smith, Qian Jia, Lan Zhou, David N. McMurray and Robert S. Chapkin. Fat-1 transgene expression prevents cell culture-induced loss of membrane n-3 fatty acids in activated CD4+ T-cells. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2008; 79(6):209-14
Qian Jia, Mei-fu Feng, Yun Wang, Shao-bai Xue, Gastric cancer cells in collagen gel matrix: three-dimensional growth and differential expression of adhesion molecules (CD44s, CD54, Ecadherin). J Biomed Mater Res A. 2008; 84(4):917-25
Qian Jia, Shao-Bai Xue, Mei-Fu Feng, Multicellular resistance in cancer therapy and three-dimensional culture, Cell biology Journal, 2004; 26(4):394-398
How do you feel that your work in research has helped in application to real people?
My research is focusing on developing practical strategies to improve health.
Why did you decide to focus on nutrition as a career?
Passion. I was excited to study the interaction between nutrition and health.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Play with my kids, 8- and 5-year-old boys.
What is your favorite food? Is there anything people be shocked you like or hate?
Dragon fruit. People are shocked that dragon fruit is a fruit, tastes so good, and nutritious!
