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ASPEN Rhoads Research Foundation

The ASPEN Rhoads Research Foundation is an American non-profit and charitable organization headquartered in Silver Spring, MD. The foundation recognizes exceptional researchers conducting both basic science-oriented investigations aimed at improving our understanding of the science of nutrient regulation in different disease states, as well as clinical and translational research to determine how the practice of nutrition support can continue to be refined and individualized to optimize clinical outcomes. Grants are awarded during the annual Nutrition Science & Practice Conference of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN). The Foundation has the stated goals of supporting the professional development of nutrition researchers throughout their careers and to fund innovative and creative research projects that are intended to drive important discoveries in the areas of nutrition therapy, metabolic support, and other topics that have potential to improve clinical practice, patient outcomes and quality of life for patients and their families. Organized in 1992, the Foundation was granted section 501(c)(3) status by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code as a public charity in 1994 and continues to fund basic and clinical nutrition research.

The foundation selects and funds the George Blackburn Research Mentorship Award. This award recognizes nutrition leaders for their achievements as outstanding research mentors. The nominee must have least 10 years of research and/or academic experience in clinical nutrition and metabolic support.

History
The Foundation is named in honor of Jonathan E. Rhoads, MD (1907-2002), a surgeon, researcher and professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine who was an early advocate in organizing and advancing the practice of clinical nutrition. Dr. Joel Kopple, past president of ASPEN, encouraged the formation of an ASPEN Research Foundation Study Committee. The committee was chaired by Jonathan Rhoads, MD and after months of study, it voted in 1992 to recommend to the ASPEN Board of Directors that a research foundation be established. Dr. David Lipschitz chaired the working group that was charged with describing criteria for grant awards and administration and implementation of the fund. The initial focus of the research fund was to provide support to new researchers. The Foundation awarded its first five grants in 1994, from funds donated by corporations and ASPEN members. Two $25,000 grants were presented, endowed in the names of Drs. Douglas Wilmore and Maurice Shils, and three smaller grants were presented, one for $5OOO and two for $2500. The awardees reflected the diverse membership of ASPEN, one physician, one nurse, two dietitians, and one doctor of veterinary medicine.