Dr. Leanne Redman Selected for Top Honor by The Obesity Society

The Obesity Society—the leading professional society focused on obesity science, treatment and prevention—has named Pennington Biomedical's Dr. Leanne Redman as the recipient of the 2023 TOPS Research Achievement Award. The award, which is funded by the Take Off Pounds Sensibly, or TOPS, Foundation, was presented to Dr. Redman on Monday, Oct. 16, in recognition of her contributions to research in the field of obesity.

Considered by many to be the top award for obesity research, Dr. Redman was selected for the TOPS award for her research in the field of maternal energy regulation. As the 2023 honoree, Dr. Redman receives a $5,000 reward, which was presented during her presentation ceremony at Obesity Week 2023 events held in Dallas.

"Dr. Redman is extremely deserving of this honor for her groundbreaking research in the field of maternal energy regulation," said Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center. "This recognition is not only a testament to the outstanding contributions Dr. Redman is making to this field; it is also a testament to the incredibly talented and highly skilled research teams at Pennington Biomedical."

Dr. Redman serves as the Associate Executive Director for Scientific Education at Pennington Biomedical and is a professor of reproductive endocrinology and women's health. She first joined Pennington Biomedical as a postdoctoral fellow in 2005 and became a Full Professor by the age of 40. Her research interests primarily focus on health issues for women, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, gestational diabetes, menopause, pregnancy and breast feeding. She also focuses on quantifying energy balance and incorporating state-of-the-art methods to measure energy intake and energy expenditure.

"I am filled with such gratitude that my peers and colleagues nominated me for this award, placing me in league with the previous recipients, many of whom are friends and mentors," said Dr. Redman. "To receive the TOPS research award is an honor of a lifetime, as it recognizes the efforts for which I have devoted toward researching perinatal energy metabolism, the generational transmission of obesity, and general health for women, infants and children. I am proud to bring this award back to Pennington Biomedical, where I can pursue this research with worldclass resources."

A team of peers both at Pennington Biomedical and at research facilities across the country nominated Dr. Redman for the award, recognizing her as a pioneer in the field of perinatal energy metabolism and its influence on the intergenerational transmission of obesity.
Colleague Dr. Eric Ravussin, Director, Nutrition Obesity Research Center; Douglas L. Gordon Chair in Diabetes and Metabolism; and LSU Boyd Professor at Pennington Biomedical, cited Dr. Redman's role as a mentor for junior scientists.

"Dr. Redman is truly dedicated to developing junior scientists interested in accelerating the field of perinatal energy balance and the intergenerational transmission of obesity," Dr. Ravussin said. "While Dr. Redman's research accomplishments are incredible at such a young age, her academic lineage are sure to be just as fruitful for decades to come."

The Obesity Society also recognized Pennington Biomedical researcher Dr. Emily Flanagan, honoring her with the 2023 Early Career Travel Award. Her abstract, "Infant Activity: A Missing Link in the New Dietary Reference Intake Equations," highlights gaps in the newly published Dietary Reference Guidelines in infants under the age of three months and proposes the need to consider activity to enhance these prescriptive equations.

"I'm honored to receive this award, as it demonstrates the need for more laboratory-based energy expenditure experiments in infants and precision nutrition in this vulnerable population," said Dr. Flanagan. "It is fitting and humbling that I receive this award in the same year that my mentor, Dr. Leanne Redman, is recognized for her unparalleled contributions to the field. She paved the way to allow us to conduct such research and pursue greater nutritional recommendations for infants."