Isis Trujillo-Gonzalez, PhD

Assistant Professor of Nutrition

Isis Trujillo-Gonzalez, PhD is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Nutrition Research Institute (NRI).  She joined the NRI in 2015 to conduct her postdoctoral research under Steve Zeisel mentoring. She earned her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
 
 Her lab employs molecular and neuroscience methodologies to investigate the impact of choline on brain function and health. A major area of focus is understanding how maternal choline intake affects brain development both in healthy conditions and in the presence of neurodevelopmental disorders. They are also exploring choline’s role in metabolic health and its potential connections to neurodegenerative diseases.Their research ranges from foundational studies in epigenetic regulation to translational projects aimed at clinical applications. Additionally, they are examining how genetic variations influence individual responses to choline intake and their broader systemic effects.
 

Trujillo-Gonzalez Lab Team

Camila Espasandin, MS : Visiting Scholar, Trujillo Lab

Camila Espasandin, MS

Visiting Scholar, Trujillo Lab

Camila Espasandin is a Visiting Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Nutrition Research Institute (NRI). She is a PhD student and her research is focused on mechanisms of one carbon metabolism in thermogenesis in mice. She joined the NRI in 2024 to conduct a collaboration with Dr. Isis Trujillo-Gonzalez within the academic framework of her PhD studies. She earned her MSc. in Biological Sciences from the University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay (UDELAR).

camie@unc.edu
Walter Friday : Research Specialist, Trujillo and Saini Labs

Walter Friday

Research Specialist, Trujillo and Saini Labs

Walter Friday, a Kannapolis native, recently returned to Cabarrus County to get married. He is a 2010 graduate of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College with an AAS in Biotechnology. He is pleased to be working at the Nutrition Research Institute as a research technician. He enjoys spending time with his wife, reading, and traveling.

walter_friday@unc.edu
Jose Luis Garduno-Hernandez, BS : Research Technician, Trujillo Lab

Jose Luis Garduno-Hernandez, BS

Research Technician, Trujillo Lab

Jose Luis holds a degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Biology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). His professional journey has led him to serve as a Research Assistant in the Department of Biochemistry in the Lab of Medicinal Chemistry at the School of Medicine, National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), Mexico City. His research interests span a wide spectrum, encompassing neurodegenerative diseases, microbial infections, hypertension, and cancer. In addition to his research endeavors, Jose Luis is dedicated to education, having taught various subjects including pharmacology, physiology, and advanced biochemistry. With a passion for both research and teaching, he brings to the Trujillo Lab a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of biomedical sciences.

garduher@unc.edu

In the News

New Research Explores Choline Metabolites and Long-Term Diabetes Risk

New Research Explores Choline Metabolites and Long-Term Diabetes Risk

Research from the Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) sheds new light on the connection between choline metabolism and diabetes risk, focusing on a critical age range—adults in their 30s and 40s—when metabolic changes begin to take shape. The study, led by NRI...

2024 NGx Recap Video

2024 NGx Recap Video

The 2024 NGx: Nutrigenomics and Precision Nutrition in Clinical Practice short course has wrapped. During the course, we delved into the cutting-edge world of nutrigenomics and precision nutrition, bringing together researchers and practitioners from...

Precision Nutrition is Essential

Precision Nutrition is Essential

In 2008, the UNC Nutrition Research Institute opened its doors with just two faculty members and nine staff. Established as an institute in the Nutrition department of the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the...