Ernie Ballard

Senior Director of Communications and Marketing at @PBRCNews. Lots of Saints, Pelicans, Braves and LSU posts

[WAFB @WAFB]

Does an avocado a day keep the doctor away? Pennington Biomedical researching blood sugar management in Type 2 diabetes patients https://t.co/Jb7CzAluRy

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

June is Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Month and we’re challenging you to try a new fruit or veggie each week. Exploring new flavors is a delicious way to fuel your body with nutrients that support energy, weight management, and overall health.

Try these ideas to get started:
🥕 Visit a local farmer’s market and pick something new
🍇 Swap one processed snack for fresh fruit
🥬 Add a new vegetable to your favorite dish
🍑 Watch for our upcoming recipe videos

Share your fresh picks with #PBRCsmallshifts and inspire others to eat fresh this month 🌿✨

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

We are proud to have been a part of Food is Medicine Advocacy Day 2026 in Washington, D.C., yesterday to help educate Congress on the importance of #foodismedicine and discuss #medicallytailoredmeals, #medicallytailoredgroceries, #produceprescriptions, #nutritionresearch, #nutritioneducation and more #LAGov #lalege #LSU

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

Researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center have published the first study to estimate the prevalence of pediatric obesity among U.S. children and adolescents using the new Lancet Commission definitions of preclinical and clinical obesity. To view the full article, visit https://t.co/onBwJKEANd

#PediatricObesity #ChildHealth #ObesityResearch #PublicHealth #MetabolicHealth #PenningtonBiomedical #HealthInnovation #ResearchMatters #HealthyKids

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

Proud to be among 250 attendees from nearly 40 states and D.C. attending Food is Medicine Advocacy Day 2026 on Capitol Hill. We’re spending the day educating Congress on Food is Medicine (FIM) in healthcare, including Medically Tailored Meals, Medically Tailored Groceries, Produce Prescriptions, nutrition research and nutrition education.

The Advocacy Day reflects the spectrum of multi-sector enthusiasm and support for Food is Medicine - participants include patients and participants in FIM programs; physicians; registered dietitians; non-profit and for-profit providers of medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, and produce prescriptions; community organizations implementing FIM programs; food banks; healthcare systems; life insurers; researchers; farmers, and more, with experience in all facets of FIM.

The Food is Medicine Advocacy Day was organized by Tufts Food is Medicine Institute (@tufts_fimi) at Tufts University with the following collaborators: Pennington Biomedical Research Center (@PBRCNews), American Heart Association (@American_Heart), Instacart (@Instacart), John Hancock (@johnhancockusa), National Produce Prescription Collaborative (@NPPC_USA), Appalachian Refional Health, Capital Area Food Bank, Food is Medicine Coalition and the National Association of Community Health Centers #foodismedicine #lalege #Lagov #LSU

To learn more about #foodismedicine, visit: https://t.co/K2BWhiDuER

[Ernie Ballard @eballa1]

@ProPelsTalk This

[LA CaTS Center IDeA-CTR @LACaTSCenter]

Congrats to Dr. Owen Carmichael on the Parks Professorship @PBRCNews ! A leader in dementia research & 2025 Publication of the Year honoree, advancing brain aging & Alzheimer’s science.

Proud LA CaTS investigator & Community Scholar.
#translationalTues

🔗https://t.co/o7OtObCCPa

[Ernie Ballard @eballa1]

Pennington Biomedical seeks participants for avocado study https://t.co/asulcZW3IH

[Ernie Ballard @eballa1]

@NOLAJake Simmons says we think he’ll be traded, and everyone reports it like it’s imminent. And, I agree, you only trade Trey if you are tearing it down more

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

School may be out, but healthy habits don’t take a summer break. Pennington Biomedical researcher Dr. Amanda Staiano recently shared summer wellness advice with @225BatonRouge, encouraging families to focus on hydration, movement, nutritious snacks and making healthy choices together. Read more: https://t.co/uLIGTepwPK #Solutions #CellstoSociety #SmallShifts #SummerHealth #HealthyFamilies #ChildWellness

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

Could exercise be the key to healthier fat? Join the ATLAS study and help us find out! We are seeking individuals ages 18-50 with a BMI between 30-40 kg/m2. You can earn up to $1,350. See if you qualify: https://t.co/8syScUsPDd

[Ernie Ballard @eballa1]

@garlandgillen Trey is our best player and a fan favorite. Only reason to trade him is to start over

[LSU @LSU]

Personalizing the future of healthcare: Researchers at @PBRCNews and @LSUHealthNO are advancing NIH-backed precision nutrition research to better understand how genetics, metabolism, and behavior shape obesity and diabetes treatment. Explore LSU's research growth: https://t.co/MWZE7BAHAC

[Ernie Ballard @eballa1]

@BillSimmons @ZachLowe_NBA Sure Boston’s always an option for every player out there

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

May is wrapping up and we’re celebrating every mindful minute you spent unplugged 🌿💆‍♂️

This month’s Small Shift showed us that even the smallest breaks from screens can boost mental clarity, reduce stress, and support well-being. Whether it was a tech-free lunch, a walk without scrolling, or turning off notifications, every moment of quiet made a difference.

Keep the momentum going:
• Schedule daily screen-free breaks
• Protect your downtime with no devices
• Notice how good it feels to truly disconnect

Share your favorite ways to unplug with #PBRCsmallshifts 💻✨

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

New research from #LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the international SUNRISE International Study highlights how prolonged time in car seats, strollers and other restraints may affect movement behaviors in young children.

Published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, the study found that while most children met recommended guidelines for restrained sitting, longer time spent in vehicles and urban living environments were linked to lower odds of meeting healthy movement recommendations. The findings underscore the importance of balancing safety with opportunities for movement during early childhood development. https://t.co/0Tz12hkOXe #Solutions #CellstoSociety #PBRCresearch

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

Can Hass avocados influence blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes? Join our Avocado-T2D study
and help us find out! We are seeking men and women ages 18-70. You can earn up to $1,000.
Learn more: https://t.co/ekTfnFBR3s

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

Childhood obesity affects too many #Louisiana families, but new solutions are being developed right here in our state. This morning, Dr. Amanda Staiano from Pennington Biomedical and Dr. Melissa Holland from @ololhealth joined @talk1073 to discuss the COACH trial, a new study that is helping families build healthier habits through primary care clinics across Louisiana and Tennessee.

The program focuses on children ages 5 to 17 who fall above the 95th percentile for height and weight. According to the researchers, more than one-in-five children nationwide now live with obesity. The most severe cases can lead to serious health issues, including high blood pressure, sleep apnea, asthma, prediabetes, and high cholesterol. LIsten to the interview at https://t.co/oP4IKFUDTG. #Solutions #CellstoSociety #LSUresearch #ChildhoodObesity #COACHTrial #LouisianaHealth

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

Via @theadvocatebr, Catherine Carmichael, Research Dietitian at Pennington Biomedical and Project Manager for Louisiana Team Nutrition, shared how school gardens are helping students connect with healthy foods in meaningful ways — from planting and harvesting to seeing those foods served in school lunches.

Learning the habits — and taste — of healthy eating young can have lasting effects on both children and the families at home. “Only good things can come from gardens,” said Catherine Carmichael, a dietitian and researcher at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge @LAFitKids https://t.co/fjVGqAef4X

[Pennington Biomedical Research Center @PBRCNews]

Advance the future of human performance research at Pennington Biomedical Research Center!

LSU is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Human Performance Optimization Laboratory, contributing to groundbreaking research focused on nutrition, exercise physiology, muscle metabolism, and performance under extreme physiological stress. Work alongside multidisciplinary teams supporting innovations for astronauts, military personnel, and first responders.

📍 Baton Rouge, LA
🔬 Clinical & translational research
🧬 Human performance + muscle metabolism focus
🚀 Collaborations with NIH, DoD & NASA initiatives
📅 Apply by June 30, 2026

Apply here: https://t.co/I0MrGVIXEW