Research Projects:
Research Project: Analysis of the implementation of the purchase of genera from family farming in the UNIRIO University Restaurant
Funding: CNPq
Research Lines: Challenges and Actions in Promoting Adequate and Healthy Eating
Description: In 2015, Decree no. 8473, of June 22, 2015, which establishes, within the scope of the federal public administration, the minimum percentage of 30% that should be destined for the acquisition of foodstuffs from family farmers. In this context, the university restaurants of the Higher Education Institutions must create mechanisms that allow to comply with the guidelines of this Decree. The objective of this research is to analyze the possibilities of articulation between the food demand, structure and service modality of the UNIRIO University Restaurant and the food supply of family agriculture in the region. This research is part of a broader project entitled “Social role of the university in strengthening public policies for food and nutrition security” which foresees, in addition to the research aspect, the offer of courses in Food and Nutrition Security and extension activities aimed at food and nutrition education. to the young audience.
Research Project: Food as a political action: promotion of adequate and sustainable food among young people.
Funding: Ministry of Social Development
Research Lines: Challenges and Actions in Promoting Adequate and Healthy Eating
Description: This project is the result of a Technical Cooperation signed between the Ministry of Social Development and UFRJ Campus-Macaé, in partnership with UNIRIO and UERJ. The project arose from the need to dialogue directly with young people - people between 15 and 29 years old, noting that this group lacks Food and Nutrition Education (EAN) actions in the Food and Nutrition, Health and Education policy agendas. , Social Assistance and Food and Nutrition Security (FNS). The objective is to develop educational and mobilization strategies to promote appropriate and sustainable eating practices aimed at young people, which include a more appropriate approach to the moment of life in the workplace. With regard to its routines, languages and interests. During the development process, the project became a movement and adopted the name of "Eating for what?". To create the Education and Communication Plan, workshops were held with young people in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Porto Alegre, as well as two National Workshops with Strategic Actors for diagnosis, planning and development and propositions of virtual and on-site strategies. As a result, educational pieces (10 videos, 10 animations, 10 radio spots, print materials) and communication and mobilization strategies (website, social media profiles and application) were created. The project is underway, fostered by technical cooperation with MDS and in the process of agreeing on an institutional partnership with FNDE, after the initial advisory experience for content creation for high school textbook back covers of the Brazilian public network. , with messages related to the Mobilizing Themes of the Eat for what?
Research Project: Strengthening of the National Food and Nutrition Security System (SISAN) in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais and their respective municipalities Research Line: Challenges and Actions in Promoting Adequate and Healthy Eating Description: This project aims to strengthen the National Food and Nutrition Security System (SISAN) in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais and their respective priority municipalities, by supporting the Food and Nutrition Security Councils (CONSEAs) and to Chambers or Instances
Funding: Ministry of Social Development / CERESAN
Research Lines: Challenges and Actions in Promoting Adequate and Healthy Eating
Description: This project aims to strengthen the National Food and Nutrition Security System (SISAN) in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais and their respective priority municipalities, by supporting the Food and Nutrition Security Councils (CONSEAs) and to the Chambers or Governmental Instances of Intersectoral Management of Food and Nutritional Security (CAISANs) with the accomplishment of advisory for the elaboration of public policies and actions of qualification, mobilization and communication.
Research Project: Urban Agroecological Agriculture: Proposed roof garden as a strategy for action on food and nutrition security
Funding: FAPERJ
Research Lines: Challenges and Actions in Promoting Adequate and Healthy Eating
Description: The objective of this proposal is to develop a process of production of roofed vegetables in the context of agroecological urban agriculture from the perspective of food and nutritional security, which will also function as an experimental field for the production of scientific knowledge on food composition, analysis and processing. . The research project will be carried out in partnership with the Study Group on Hydrology and Water Resources Planning and is in direct connection with the Food Production and Income Generation Extension Projects in Family Farming: Small-scale Artisanal Production Guidance Vargem Grande Organic Farmers Association (Institute of Nutrition / UERJ) and Hydrocities (Faculty of Engineering / UERJ), and also the GraduaSUS Education Program for Health Work (PET-Saúde / GraduaSUS), which Its objective is the promotion of curricular changes, integration of the university with the territory in the SUS and articulation with other initiatives. The garden will be developed in an experimental unit already existing in the roof of the Rector Haroldo Lisboa da Cunha Pavilion / UERJ. Eight vegetables will be grown in the experimental garden: four root / fruit vegetables (carrots, beets, pimento pepper and young pepper) and four leafy vegetables (collard greens, basil, parsley and chives)
Research Project: Qualitative assessment of menu preparations (AQPC): Application in public and private educational institutions in the state of Rio de Janeiro
Research Lines: Challenges and Actions in Promoting Adequate and Healthy Eating
Description: Project that aims to apply the AQPC method in different educational institutions in the State of Rio de Janeiro by evaluating the nutritional quality of these places. Concomitantly, with the generated database, explore new possibilities for analysis of the data generated by AQPC.
Research Project: Lifestyle, Obesity and Mental Health in the Longitudinal Study of Nutrition and Health in University Students (NUTSAU)
Research Lines: Challenges and Actions in Promoting Adequate and Healthy Eating
Description: The literature has indicated that college students would be more susceptible to risk factors for the development and aggravation of overweight such as inappropriate eating habits, stress and physical inactivity. In addition, entry into academia also coincides with biological changes in the course of life transition between adolescence and adulthood, where factors such as leaving home, new social relationships, changes in eating habits, Adoption of new attitudes and behaviors towards the academic environment would further aggravate this situation. The aim of this project is to evaluate the nutritional status, lifestyle variables and obesity-related anxiety and depression symptoms in college students. The analysis of food consumption data aims to fill gaps by analyzing dietary patterns and eating environments, bypassing traditional analyzes at the nutrient and food level. Further advances can be made through recent analyzes of sedentary behaviors, which are promising because they incorporate fewer errors than physical activity measures and even behavioral nutrition and mental health in view of a possible causal pathway. between obesity and anxiety / depression, and it is necessary to refine measurement and analysis methods in this area.
Research Project: Metabolism of bioactive compounds and their application in disease prevention
Funding: CNPq / FAPERJ
Research Lines: Challenges and Actions in Promoting Adequate and Healthy Eating
Description: A wide range of bioactive compounds are evidenced and studied to be responsible for the beneficial effects of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. These substances exert various actions from a biological point of view, such as antioxidant activity, detoxification enzyme modulation, stimulation of the immune system, reduction of platelet aggregation, modulation of hormonal metabolism, reduction of blood pressure, and antibacterial and antiviral activity. A complete approach to the biological activity of these substances involves studies of their bioavailability, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, effective half-life, activation and inactivation mechanisms and excretion of the compound in question. The aim of the project is to characterize the metabolism of bioactive compounds and to evaluate their use in the prevention of pathologies. The development of the project aims to contribute, through in vitro and in vivo study models, to a greater understanding of several aspects including: intracellular uptake and metabolism of bioactive compounds; phenotypic modulation and cell growth profile; modifications in gene expression related to various pathologies and direct and indirect effects of bioactive compounds in the prevention of pathologies.
Research Project: Nutritional profile of patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated at a university hospital
Research Lines: Challenges and Actions in Promoting Adequate and Healthy Eating
Description: Brazil has shown a significant increase in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is the general name for inflammatory disorders of unknown cause involving the gastrointestinal tract. The cause of IBD is not known, but there is interaction between genetic, environmental and immune factors, as well as dietary influence and changes in intestinal barrier permeability. The nutritional status of this patient is directly influenced by various pathophysiological conditions, in addition to medications, surgical procedures and inadequate nutrition. Despite the weight loss, excessive weight gain can also occur and be associated with nutritional deficiencies due to the disease. Proinflammatory cytokines also influence the body composition of these patients through the process of intestinal inflammation. The aim of the present study is to characterize the nutritional profile of patients with IBD in outpatient care at a university hospital. There will be 200 recruited IBD patients of both sexes treated at UniRio's Gaffrée Guinle University Hospital. A cross-sectional study will be conducted, which participants will complete questionnaires, nutritional assessment (anthropometric; body composition with electrical impedance; dietary; non-dominant hand grip strength and biochemical assessment). This project aims to generate original and relevant information on nutritional assessment of patients with IBD. This information will be useful, generating a favorable impact on the treatment and control of IBD in outpatient care, hospitalizations and surgical procedures. The results will be published in scientific articles and presented at scientific events. It is noteworthy that the execution of this project will spread knowledge and research training to a multiprofessional team including undergraduate and postgraduate students.
