At the UNC Nutrition Research Institute, discovery does not happen in a single moment. Between the first research question and the final publication is the careful, often unseen work of planning, recruiting participants, gathering data, building teams, and refining ideas. This invisible middle is where science takes shape.
Halle Meyer’s journey at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute began in 2020, when she joined the institute as a 21-year-old research technician in the lab of Sergey Krupenko, MD, PhD. Nearly six years later, she successfully defended her dissertation, earned her PhD in Nutrition from UNC-Chapel Hill, and leaves the NRI with not only scientific expertise, but a deep appreciation for the community and mentorship that shaped her along the way.
NGx brings together forward-thinking minds at the intersection of nutrition, genetics, and health to explore where science is going next—and how it’s already shaping the way we understand and apply precision nutrition. This is more than a conference; it is a chance to engage directly with the research, the people behind it, and the ideas that are redefining the field.
With more than 2,200 fans in attendance, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Atrium stadium became a place of discovery, featuring live demonstrations, hands-on STEM activities, and a community coming together around curiosity and learning. From liquid nitrogen launches to interactive science kits, the energy carried through every inning.
You may have heard the term “precision nutrition” before. But at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI), it is more than a concept, it is a shift in how we understand food, health, and the human body. While nutrition advice has traditionally followed a one-size-fits-all approach, NRI researchers are uncovering a far more complex reality, one where individuals can respond very differently to the same foods.
