Dr. John Apolzan and Dr. Leanne Redman Named 2026 Excellence in Nutrition Fellows

Two researchers from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center have been named 2026 Excellence in Nutrition Fellows of the American Society for Nutrition, or ASN, recognizing their significant contributions to nutrition science and sustained engagement in the nutrition community.

Dr. John Apolzan and Dr. Leanne Redman were selected for the Fellows of ASN, or FASN, designation, an honor awarded to nutrition professionals who have demonstrated substantial impact in research, translational science and service to the field.

Dr. Apolzan, Director of the Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism Laboratory, is a nutrition scientist whose research interests involve overseeing and managing human clinical intervention trials examining nutritional, physical activity and body weight outcomes across the lifespan. He has experience in the development and oversight of clinic-based and mHealth interventions. He is the co-inventor of the FoodImage and PortionSize apps. Overall, he conducts translational research in the areas of human clinical nutrition, exercise physiology and obesity to further reduce disease prevalence.

Dr. Redman, who now serves as Academic Director of the Charles Perkins Centre in Australia and is an adjunct professor with Pennington Biomedical, is internationally recognized for her research on body weight regulation, women’s health, obesity and nutrition. Until recently, she served as Pennington Biomedical Associate Executive Director for Scientific Education and Director of the Pennington-LSU Nutrition Obesity Research Center.

“We are incredibly proud to see Dr. Apolzan and Dr. Redman recognized as Excellence in Nutrition Fellows by the American Society for Nutrition,” said Dr. Jennifer Rood, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical. “This distinction reflects their outstanding scientific contributions, leadership in the field of nutrition and dedication to advancing research that improves lives. Their work continues to strengthen Pennington Biomedical’s reputation as a global leader in nutrition, obesity and metabolic health research.”

The Excellence in Nutrition Fellows program recognizes ASN members who are at least 10 years beyond their terminal degree and who have demonstrated excellence through their professional accomplishments and service to the Society. The FASN designation is a mark of excellence in the field of nutrition, signifying recipients’ contributions to advancing nutrition science and practice, as well as their commitment to the highest standards of the profession.

“One of my priorities as ASN President has been to champion the professional growth and career advancement of our members across the nutrition workforce,” said Dr. Naïma Moustaïd-Moussa. “This year’s Excellence in Nutrition Fellows represent a remarkable group of leaders whose contributions to research, clinical care, education, policy and mentorship continue to strengthen and advance the field of nutrition. ASN is proud to recognize their achievements and service to the Society.”

Sixty-nine new Fellows will be recognized during ASN’s annual meeting, NUTRITION 2026, to be held July 25–28 in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit https://nutrition.org/2026-excellence-in-nutrition-fellows/.