Linus Pauling Institute
Encyclopedia
The Linus Pauling Institute is a research institute located at Oregon State University
with a focus on health maintenance. The mission statement of the institute is three-fold. First, to determine the functional roles of micronutrients and phytochemicals in promoting optimal health and to treat or prevent human disease. Second, to determine the role of oxidative stress
and inflammation
in health and disease processes, and determine how dietary antioxidants and anti-inflammatories may have protective effects. Lastly, to help people live a full and productive life, free of disease. There are several major areas of research occurring at the institute, focused on many vitamins, minerals and other compounds found in the diet.
The Linus Pauling Institute receives a significant amount of research funding from the National Institutes of Health
(NIH). In 2003 the NIH through the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) designated the LPI as a Center of Excellence for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine following a grant "to study aging, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative problems such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease" awarded to Project Leaders Dr. Balz Frei, Dr. Tory Hagen, Dr. Joseph Beckman and Dr. Weijian Zhang.
The institute was founded in 1973 in Menlo Park, California
by Linus Pauling
and several colleagues under the name Institute of Orthomolecular Medicine. Due to Linus Pauling's death, it relocated to Oregon in 1996 although several researchers, including the assistant director of research, went on to form the Genetic Information Research Institute
in nearby Mountain View, CA. It produces a free quarterly newsletter with information on micronutrient
research, sponsors several research awards, and promotes several outreach programs. Every two years, the LPI hosts the Diet and Optimum Health Conference, and awards the "Linus Pauling Institute Prize for Health Research" for outstanding research in relation to their mission statement.
The Linus Pauling Institute Web site is home to the Micronutrient Information Center (MIC) an online database for vitamin, mineral, phytochemical and nutrition information.
The current director of the Linus Pauling Institute is Dr. Balz Frei, who has a PhD
in biochemistry
, and was recently honored as a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Oregon State University
.
As of 2009, the Linus Pauling Science Center is under construction at OSU, and is slated for completion in Spring, 2011. It is the largest-ever academic building project for Oregon State University.
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
with a focus on health maintenance. The mission statement of the institute is three-fold. First, to determine the functional roles of micronutrients and phytochemicals in promoting optimal health and to treat or prevent human disease. Second, to determine the role of oxidative stress
Oxidative stress
Oxidative stress represents an imbalance between the production and manifestation of reactive oxygen species and a biological system's ability to readily detoxify the reactive intermediates or to repair the resulting damage...
and inflammation
Inflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
in health and disease processes, and determine how dietary antioxidants and anti-inflammatories may have protective effects. Lastly, to help people live a full and productive life, free of disease. There are several major areas of research occurring at the institute, focused on many vitamins, minerals and other compounds found in the diet.
The Linus Pauling Institute receives a significant amount of research funding from the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
(NIH). In 2003 the NIH through the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) designated the LPI as a Center of Excellence for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine following a grant "to study aging, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative problems such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease" awarded to Project Leaders Dr. Balz Frei, Dr. Tory Hagen, Dr. Joseph Beckman and Dr. Weijian Zhang.
The institute was founded in 1973 in Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
by Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling
Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
and several colleagues under the name Institute of Orthomolecular Medicine. Due to Linus Pauling's death, it relocated to Oregon in 1996 although several researchers, including the assistant director of research, went on to form the Genetic Information Research Institute
Genetic Information Research Institute
The Genetic Information Research Institute is a non-profit institution that was founded in 1994 by Jerzy Jurka. The mission of the institute "is to understand biological processes which alter the genetic makeup of different organisms, as a basis for potential gene therapy and genome engineering...
in nearby Mountain View, CA. It produces a free quarterly newsletter with information on micronutrient
Micronutrient
Micronutrients are nutrients required by humans and other living things throughout life in small quantities to orchestrate a whole range of physiological functions, but which the organism itself cannot produce. For people, they include dietary trace minerals in amounts generally less than 100...
research, sponsors several research awards, and promotes several outreach programs. Every two years, the LPI hosts the Diet and Optimum Health Conference, and awards the "Linus Pauling Institute Prize for Health Research" for outstanding research in relation to their mission statement.
The Linus Pauling Institute Web site is home to the Micronutrient Information Center (MIC) an online database for vitamin, mineral, phytochemical and nutrition information.
The current director of the Linus Pauling Institute is Dr. Balz Frei, who has a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
, and was recently honored as a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
.
As of 2009, the Linus Pauling Science Center is under construction at OSU, and is slated for completion in Spring, 2011. It is the largest-ever academic building project for Oregon State University.