Linus Pauling Institute

Balz Frei, Director
307 Linus Pauling Science Center
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 737-5075
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu

The basic premise that an optimum diet is the key to optimum health is the foundation of the Linus Pauling Institute. Researchers investigate the function and role of vitamins and essential minerals (micronutrients) and phytochemicals (chemicals from plants) in promoting health and preventing disease throughout life. They also study the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in disease and the protective effect of dietary antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
LPI’s research is organized into three major areas: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, the Healthy Aging Program, and the Cancer Chemoprotection Program. Specific research projects address:

• Inflammation, lipoic acid, and essential metals in atherosclerosis
• Metabolism and health effects of dietary flavonoids
• Vitamin E metabolism and biological functions
• Oxidative and environmental stress in Lou Gehrig’s, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease
• Stress response, lipoic acid, and mitochondrial dysfunction in aging
• Genetic and epigenetic approaches to cancer chemoprotection by dietary phytochemicals
• Transplacental cancer chemoprotection
• Zinc and antioxidants in prostate cancer, immune function, and neurodegeneration
• Novel biological functions of vitamin C
• Antioxidants and gene expression in diabetes
• Dietary fats, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism
• Vitamin D in immune function and aging

The goals of these studies are to understand the mechanisms by which nutrition affects disease initiation and progression and how nutritional factors can be used in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Such an understanding will allow an increase in the human health span—the period in which people enjoy a healthy and productive life, full of vitality, with minimal suffering, and free of cancer and other debilitating diseases.

LPI maintains two core laboratories that provide analytical services to intramural and extramural researchers:

• Cancer Chemoprotection Program Core Laboratory
  Established in 2002, the Cancer Chemoprotection Program (CCP) Core Laboratory provides genetic toxicology testing services. The mission of this laboratory is to help investigators learn whether the dietary compound of interest is a potential chemoprotective agent and to elucidate the possible inhibitory mechanism(s). We employ several techniques, including the Salmonella mutagenicity assay (or Ames test), single cell gel electrophoresis assay (SCG or Comet assay), and micronucleus (MN) assay.
• Oxidative/Nitrative Stress Core Laboratory
  Established in 2004, the mission of the Oxidative/Nitrative Stress Core Lab (ONSL) is to provide state-of-the-art analytical chemistry support for the evaluation of antioxidant status and oxidative stress. We provide analysis of biological samples for antioxidants and oxidative biomarkers and supervision and maintenance of analytical instruments.