GrassrootsHealth’s Mission
GrassrootsHealth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public health research organization dedicated to promoting optimal health worldwide through research, education, and advocacy, with a primary focus on the role of vitamin D. Through evidence-based education, resources, and our citizen-science approach to research, we empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health and healthcare providers to move research into practice.
With a panel of 48 senior vitamin D researchers from around the world contributing to its operations, GrassrootsHealth has been running the world’s largest public health intervention study – the D*action field trial – to solve the vitamin D deficiency epidemic worldwide.
GrassrootsHealth was Founded in 2007
In 2007, as Carole was recovering from breast cancer treatment, she stumbled upon a web site which touted vitamin D levels as being important, even preventive, for breast cancer. After more research she found that indeed this research was REAL. Why had she never heard it before? Could she have prevented her breast cancer? She started by garnering the support of many vitamin D researchers and GrassrootsHealth was born – with the mission of moving those researchers’ findings into practice!
GrassrootsHealth has a Partnership with 48 World-Renowned Vitamin D Researchers
GrassrootsHealth is not just another health web site. Instead it is the amalgamation of many vitamin D scientists from around the world and across many disciplines. 48 scientists worked together to create our call to action. 48 scientists have agreed that there is no perfect supplement amount, instead blood levels must be tested, and that level should be 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L). Much research, not just one study, is behind our mission to make vitamin D testing and monitoring part of standard of care for ALL people.
Our Team
Jennifer L. Aliano, MS, LAc, CCN – Executive Director
Jen Aliano has been working in the field of nutrition since 2004, with over 13 years of experience in vitamin D research and education specifically. Jen began her career with GrassrootsHealth in 2012. Her various roles have included operations and project management, study design and coordination, event organization and host, communications director, content writing, research reviews, speaking engagements, and educational program development. Jen has been co-author on several peer-reviewed papers, poster presentations, and other resources published in collaboration with GrassrootsHealth and its panel of researchers and scientists. She played key roles in the implementation of vitamin D protocols in practice, including the “Protect Our Children NOW!” Quality Improvement Project, implemented for all prenatal patients at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2015.
Prior to working with GrassrootsHealth, Jen was founder and CEO of a resource educating individuals and practitioners on holistic options for healthy fertility, pregnancy, birth, and children. In this role, she was responsible for organizing online education and hosting in-person educational and networking events for couples, families, and practitioners. She also ran a nutrition, acupuncture, and holistic medicine practice specializing in the treatment of pain, fertility, and prenatal health.
Jen graduated from the University of California, San Diego, studying psychology and pre-medicine in 2000, and received her master’s degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine from Pacific College, San Diego, in 2005. She is an editorial board member of the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, and has additional certifications in aromatherapy, massage therapy, holistic health practice, and health coaching.
When not working, her favorite activities include surfing, golf, kung-fu, tai chi, and hiking or walking in nature. She is constantly learning and working on ways to improve and maintain overall health, fitness and wellbeing – for herself and others.
Cedric F. Garland, Dr.P.H., F.A.C.E. – Principal Investigator
Dr. Cedric F. Garland is a well-known epidemiologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of California, San Diego, recognized for his extensive research on vitamin D deficiency and its relationship to various health outcomes, particularly cancer prevention. He has published over 150 articles and books on the subject, often in collaboration with his late brother, Dr. Frank C. Garland, and other researchers like Dr. Edward D. Gorham.
Not only has Dr. Garland been a pioneer in UVB and vitamin D research, he has also played a central role in the foundation and operation of GrassrootsHealth and the Vitamin D*action study, serving as Principal Investigator since 2007. Below are some of his other outstanding achievements, many of which have touched the lives of countless individuals, doctors, and researchers over the last several decades, inspiring further investigation into the health-saving benefits of UVB and vitamin D.
Samantha Kimball, PhD, MSc, MLT – Research Director
Dr. Kimball received her Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science degrees from the department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto after completing a bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Guelph. Before attending graduate school, she has trained in medical laboratory science, hematology, transfusion science, microbiology, histology and biochemistry and worked in the clinical lab at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto for 13 years. She was the Research Director at Pure North S’Energy Foundation, a health and wellness organization, in Calgary, Alberta for 6 years and is now a Lead Epidemiologist at ICON Plc.
Her research interests include the roles that vitamins, particularly vitamin D, minerals and phytochemicals play in immune function, disease prevention and overall health. She has co-written academic journal articles concerning vitamin D since 2002, with Reinhold Vieth, Bill Grant, Michael Holick and Bruce Hollis (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Samantha_Kimball/research). Google Scholar lists 55 articles with 2376 citations including Official recommendations for vitamin D through the life stages in developed countries.
Dr. Kimball enjoys paying it forward as a professor and has lectured at the University of Toronto, where she taught Nutritional Toxicology and Vitamin and Mineral Metabolism courses, as well as at Ryerson University where she taught Nutrition Through the Life Span. She taught nutrition for 6 years at St. Mary’s University College in Calgary, Alberta.
When not engaged in research, Samantha is an avid reader, writer and cat person and if off-line can be found in the Rocky Mountains hiking, skiing, or simply enjoying the outdoors.
Beth Sanford, DNP, RN, ACN – Director of Education & Clinical Practice
Dr. Beth Sanford completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Rasmussen University with a specialty in Public Health and Policy, focusing on vitamin D translational research. Beth has served vulnerable populations inside and outside the USA since 1996. Currently, she is nursing faculty in the graduate nursing department at Galen College of Nursing. She obtained a post-graduate certificate in Applied Clinical Nutrition to better educate colleagues, patients, and the public about the principles of integrative nutrition. Beth is the lead investigator for GrassrootsHealth’s North Dakota Vitamin D project, and she is serving as the President of the North Dakota Nurses Association and North Dakota Center for Nursing, advocates for health equity & vitamin D awareness, and volunteers mentoring new nurses.
Moving Vitamin D Research into Practice
It takes an average of 17 years for research to become standard practice. We can’t wait! The vitamin D research shows that blood levels in the range 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L) are safe, effective and will lower overall disease incidence and health care costs. GrassrootsHealth is committed to having vitamin D testing and monitoring be part of every yearly physical, for all age groups. How do we achieve this? By starting with project implementations in specific areas – to show it is safe and effective.
GrassrootsHealth Uses Implementations to Move Vitamin D into Practice
GrassrootsHealth started with D*action, a world-wide cohort of over 20,000 self-subscribed individuals wishing to take health into their own hands. In 2012 we launched Protect our Children NOW! – our project to end vitamin D deficiency where is starts – in utero. All implementations are research projects, and we publish research based on our findings.