In a major boost for global health, the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center‘s Body Composition Laboratory has earned an international designation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
As one of only eight Collaborating Centres worldwide—and the only one dedicated to nutrition—the lab is set to pioneer cutting-edge research and training in body composition assessment, addressing critical factors like obesity in the global fight against cancer.
Led by laboratory Director and UH Cancer Center Chief Scientific Officer John Shepherd, the laboratory will work with the IAEA through 2030 to standardize body composition assessment techniques, including methods to measure body fat, lean mass and total body water; host technical workshops; conduct collaborative research; and provide specialized clinical and technical training and resources to IAEA member countries. The need for such training is urgent because obesity is associated with approximately 20% of all cancers.
“The designation of Dr. Shepherd’s lab as an IAEA Collaborating Centre places it within a small but elite international network and reaffirms the quality of research conducted at the UH Cancer Center,” said Chad B. Walton, UH interim vice president for research and innovation. “It also helps to strengthen the distinct advantages that UH has in serving the needs of the Pacific region while expanding opportunities to contribute to—and benefit from—global collaboration, knowledge sharing, and advances in cancer research through the IAEA network.”
International partnership expands Pacific reach
The IAEA is the world’s central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field. It designates Collaborating Centres to conduct research, development and training.
The IAEA presented the laboratory’s official plaque during an August 26 ceremony at the UH Cancer Center.
“This designation represents a partnership, recognizing expertise that already exists here, while reflecting a shared commitment to extending this expertise to not only the Pacific but the wider global community,” Alford said.
The designation aligns with the UH Cancer Center’s responsibility for its catchment area, which includes Hawaiʻi and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands. As one of only 74 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers, the UH Cancer Center’s catchment area spans approximately 7 million square miles and includes more than 2 million people.
