Microbiome and Nutrition
The complex community of bacteria, yeasts and viruses living in our intestines, collectively known as the gut microbiome, is shaped, in part, by what we eat. Genetics, environment, and other factors also influence an individual’s microbial community. Research at the NRI investigates these complex relationships and their impact on disease risk. We use animal models and bioinformatics to study the associations between nutritional metabolites, gut microbiome, and health. What happens in the gut doesn’t stay in the gut. Your microbiome can play a role in cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes, and even cancer. Our team envisions a future where analysis of your microbiome can determine disease risk, and medical foods can be prescribed to treat and prevent disease by regulating the microbiome.
Publications
Microbiome and Nutrition Publications
2020
Population studies of TMAO and its precursors may help elucidate mechanisms. Meyer K
2019
Association of dietary patterns with the gut microbiota in older, community-dwelling men. Meyer K
2018
Meta-analysis of human genome-microbiome association studies: the MiBioGen consortium initiative. Meyer K
Human microbiota, blood group antigens, and disease. Sumner S
2017
Trimethylamine N-Oxide, the Microbiome, and Heart and Kidney Disease. Zeisel S
2016
Diet and Gut Microbial Function in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Meyer K
Antibiotic-mediated gut microbiome perturbation accelerates development of type 1 diabetes in mice. Sumner S
Related News
Justin Chandler
Mr. Chandler graduated with a B.S. in Human Biology from North Carolina State University in May 2019. He joined the Sumner Lab as a Research Technician in September 2019. He hopes to learn more about the importance of metabolomics and it's applications for human...
Sierra Bonney, MS
Sierra Bonney worked as a graduate research assistant in Dr. Esposito’s lab at the NC State University Plants for Human Health Institute from 2016 to 2019. She received her MS in Animal Science from NCSU where her research focused on the role of plant bioactives in...
Emmanuel Baah, MD
Dr. Baah is from Ghana where he practiced medicine before migrating to the United States. He says, "My passion to go into medicine stems from the experiences I had growing up in a small town of about a thousand people with limited access to healthcare. I developed the...
Blake Rushing, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Sumner Lab Blake Rushing, PhD, is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Nutrition Research Institute (NRI). Dr. Rushing is trained in pharmacology and toxicology, and has experience...
Yuanyuan Li, PhD
Mass Spectrometry Lab Manager, Sumner Lab Yuanyuan Li, PhD is the manager of the mass spectrometry facility in the Sumner-Lab at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Nutrition Research Institute (NRI). Dr. Li is a co-investigator in the NIEHS-funded...
David Kirchner, MS
Research Associate, Sumner Lab David Kirchner, MS is a Research Associate in the Sumner-Lab at NRI. He uses his training in mass spectrometry to analyze proteins and metabolites in biospecimens. Mr Kirchner has over 20 years of experience working in laboratories to...