Colin Kay Named Director of the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center

LTTTLE ROCK, AR. – The Arkansas Children’s Research Institute (ACRI) has named Colin Kay, PhD, director of the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center (ACNC), a partnership between Arkansas Children’s and the USDA-Agricultural Research Service.

ACNC is one of six National Human Nutrition Centers funded by the USDA-ARS, and one of just two focused on pediatric and maternal nutrition and metabolic health in the United States. Dr. Kay took the helm this summer, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to a pivotal role.

Kay previously served as director of Precision Health Research at ACRI and as the scientific director of the Metabolomics and Analytical Chemistry Research Core within ACNC. He joined the faculty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in 2023, leading and mentoring future scientists in his role as professor of Developmental Nutrition in the Department of Pediatrics.

Before coming to Arkansas, Kay served as a distinguished professor in the Plants for Human Health Institute at North Carolina State University.

Kay leads initiatives to create cloud-based knowledge databases and data visualization dashboards that integrate dietary composition, biochemical pathways and disease data. These efforts are designed to support precision health initiatives, enhancing research capabilities across a range of pediatric health challenges.

“Dr. Kay’s expertise in metabolomics, data science and precision nutrition will significantly enhance our research capabilities across a range of pediatric health initiatives,” said Pete Mourani, MD, senior vice president and chief research officer for Arkansas Children’s and president of the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute. “We are excited to have his leadership as we continue to address the critical health challenges facing children.”

ABOUT ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S

Arkansas Children's is the only health care system in the state solely dedicated to caring for Arkansas' 850,000 children. The private, non-profit organization includes two pediatric hospitals with 361 licensed beds, a pediatric research institute and USDA nutrition center, a philanthropic foundation, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, and many education and outreach programs — all focused on fulfilling a promise to define and deliver unprecedented child health. Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) is a Magnet-recognized facility in Little Rock operating the state’s only Level I pediatric trauma center; the state's only burn center; the state's only Level IV neonatal intensive care unit; the state's only pediatric intensive care unit; the state’s only pediatric surgery program with Level 1 verification from the American College of Surgeons (ACS); and the state's only nationally recognized pediatric transport program. Arkansas Children’s is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report in seven pediatric subspecialties (2024-2025): Cancer, Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Neonatal Care, Nephrology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery. Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW), the first and only pediatric hospital in the northwest Arkansas region, is a Level IV pediatric trauma center. ACNW operates an inpatient unit that will expand in 2026; a surgical unit with five operating rooms; outpatient clinics offering over 20 subspecialties; diagnostic services; imaging capabilities; occupational therapy services; and northwest Arkansas' only pediatric emergency department. Generous philanthropic and volunteer engagement has sustained Arkansas Children's since it began as an orphanage in 1912, and today ensures the system can deliver on its promise of unprecedented child health. To learn more, visit archildrens.org.

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