From Genes to Cancer Risk: Student Research in Precision Nutrition

Some of the boldest ideas in nutrition science are being tested not only by seasoned investigators, but by graduate students who bring fresh questions and innovative approaches to the field. The new Student Spotlight in UNC Nutrition Research Institute’s (NRI) Research Seminar Series shines a light on this next generation of researchers, giving them the opportunity to present their work to colleagues across the institute and share novel projects under way in the NRI labs.

The first spotlight featured two doctoral students whose projects, while distinct, both point toward the growing promise of precision nutrition. Jessica Sprinkles, MPH, and Yuheng Che, MS, each presented work that not only pushes their fields forward but also reflects the larger mission of tailoring nutrition science to individual biology.

Sprinkles, a doctoral student in the Meyer lab, presented her study on the FADS1 gene, which influences how the body processes different types of dietary fat. Drawing on data from the long-running CARDIA study, she showed that people with certain versions of this gene respond differently when saturated fat is replaced with healthier fats like polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats. For some, the change improves measures that are linked to heart health, while for others, the effect may be weaker or even reversed.

For decades, health guidelines have encouraged replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat (like swapping butter for olive oil), yet not every study shows the same benefits. Sprinkles’ findings suggest one reason: genetic differences in the FADS1 gene can make that swap more effective for some people than for others. By linking genetic variation to measurable changes in fat metabolism, her work not only helps explain why studies sometimes reach different conclusions but also points toward nutrition strategies that are more personalized, and ultimately more effective, for preventing cardiometabolic disease.

Che, a doctoral student in the Rushing and Sumner labs, took the stage to show how a different approach can provide equally powerful insights. His project uses multi-omics – a method that integrates data from genes, proteins, metabolites, and more – to uncover metabolic features linked to the earliest stages of cancer. While much of cancer research has focused on advanced disease, his work emphasizes the value of detecting changes before cancer develops.

Explaining the project, Che reflected on how it began as a training exercise in data analysis but quickly revealed the vast potential of multi-omics to detect patterns that single methods might miss. By combining layers of biological information, researchers can gain a more complete picture of health, like looking at a landscape through multiple lenses at once. A single test might show how genes are expressed, or how certain metabolites shift, but multi-omics brings those pieces together to reveal connections that would otherwise stay hidden. For cancer, that means spotting subtle signals of risk earlier, opening the door to more effective prevention.

Sprinkles’ work highlights how genetic differences shape our dietary needs, while Che demonstrates how data-driven science can reveal hidden risks long before they surface Together, they point toward a future of nutrition that is precise, preventative, and personal.