They both joined the Center for Human Nutrition as clinical nutrition research fellows. Now these two established researchers are known nationally as established investigators in their respective fields of study and recently were honored with endowments to carry out their own research ideas.

Dr. Margo Denke, associate professor of internal medicine, is holder of the new Diana K. and Richard C. Strauss Professorship in Diet, Nutrition and Women's Health, and Dr. Abhimanyu Garg, professor of internal medicine, was named holder of the Endowed Chair in human nutrition. These appointments reflect on the growing stature of the center, said Dr. Scott Grundy, who holds the Distinguished Chair in Human Nutrition. Dr. Denke is an investigator in the Center for Human Nutrition. Her research focuses on nutrition, cardiovascular disease and women's health. A continued interest in women's health issues led Dallas philanthropists Diana and Richard Strauss to establish the $100,000 endowment at UT Southwestern to support the research in the area of diet and nutrition for women. "The endowment was a wonderful surprise to me. Diet and nutrition have a unique impact on women's health. I have been touched by the Strausses' kindness by forwarding our understanding of the links between diet, nutrition and women," said Dr. Denke, who also directs the endocrine clinic at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

An anonymous $500,000 gift will be used to support Dr. Garg's research pertaining to nutrition in patients with diabetes and studies to clarify the underlying molecular and metabolic basis of lipodystrophies, disorders characterized by extreme lack of body fat, insulin resistance, diabetes and high blood-lipid levels. The gift created the Endowed Chair in Human Nutrition. "The community is very gracious to recognize the research work that I've done by giving me this honor. It is very gratifying to see such support. Dr. Garg said.

In his first major research study at UT Southwestern, Dr. Garg showed that blood glucose and cholesterol levels in type II diabetics are better controlled with diets high in monounsaturated fatty acids than low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets. As a result of the findings by Dr. Garg and his associates, the American Diabetic Association in 1994 modified its dietary guidelines for people with diabetes to include foods high in monounsaturated fats. Dr. Garg is a senior investigator in the Center for Human Nutrition. He also is associate director of the National Institute of Health General Clinical Research Center at UT Southwestern and director of the diabetes clinic at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Last year, Dr. Ishwarlal Jialal, professor of pathology and internal medicine, was named the first holder of the C. Vincent Prothro Chair in Human Nutrition Research. Dr. Jialal, who has made important observations about the benefits of vitamin E in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in diabetics, is a senior investigator in the Center for Human Nutrition.