Damon Runyon Researchers

Meet Our Scientists
Darryl A. Wesener, PhD

Dr. Wesener is studying how food processing by the community of tens of trillions of microbes (microbiota) that resides in the human gut influences nutritional status. Obesity, and its associated metabolic abnormalities, is associated with higher incidence of certain cancers, notably those affecting the colon, uterus, and breast. Transplantation of intact gut microbiota from obese humans into germ-free mice leads to increased fat gain and obesity-associated metabolic abnormalities. He will employ synthetic food particles and mice colonized with human gut microbial communities to uncover biochemical functions and food ingredients that promote establishment of a beneficial microbiota that promotes leanness and metabolic health.

Project title: "Synthetic food particles for studying human gut microbiota function"
Institution: Washington University
Award Program: Fellow
Sponsor(s) / Mentor(s): Jeffrey I. Gordon, MD
Cancer Type: All Cancers
Research Area: Microbiology