Celebrating the Winners of the 5th Annual Global Prebiotic Association Researcher Grant
We are thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s Global Prebiotic Association Researcher Grant! This year, we recognize two exceptional postdoctoral researchers for their groundbreaking contributions to the field of prebiotics. In our mission to guide the responsible growth of the prebiotic category globally, we at the GPA understand the vital role played by young and emerging researchers. We are proud to continue expanding our global network, encompassing industry, academics, and practitioners.
We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to our internal and external judges, including academics, researchers, and industry experts, for their invaluable time and insights.
Join us in celebrating these individuals and the growing community!
Young Researcher Award for Fundamental/Primary Research
Kasey Schalich, PhD
Dr. Kasey Schalich earned her Ph.D. from Cornell University in Dr. Vimal Selvaraj’s laboratory and is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Food Science and Technology at UC Davis, working in David Mills’ laboratory. She completed her first postdoctoral position as a T32 fellow with Dr. Fang Yan at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, for which this award is given. She specializes in the intersection of nutrition, gut microbe function, and host health.
Study Overview:
Dr. Schalich’s research, completed under the mentorship of Dr. Fang Yan at VUMC, explores how 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), the most abundant human milk oligosaccharide, prevents intestinal inflammation in adulthood by modulating gut microbial metabolism. Her study revealed that 2′-FL promotes the growth of beneficial Bifidobacterium, which produces pantothenate (vitamin B5) to protect the intestinal barrier from inflammation and injury. This work uncovers a novel mechanism for 2′-FL’s protective effects and suggests its potential to address dysregulated microbial metabolism in conditions like ulcerative colitis, advancing our understanding of prebiotics’ role in gut health.
Young Researcher Award for Applied Research
Car Reen Kok, PhD
Dr. Car Reen Kok is a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Her work focuses on understanding how individual responses to prebiotic interventions are shaped by the bacterial composition of the gut microbiome.
Study Overview:
Dr. Kok’s research, completed under the mentorship of Robert Hutkins at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), tackles the challenge of predicting why some individuals respond to prebiotics while others do not. By analyzing metagenomic features of the gut microbiome, she developed predictive models to distinguish responders from non-responders based on specific carbohydrate degradative systems. Her findings demonstrate the potential for targeted microbiome profiling to personalize prebiotic recommendations, paving the way for more effective dietary interventions in clinical practice.
Congratulations to Dr. Schalich and Dr. Kok for their innovative work! Their studies deepen our knowledge of prebiotics and open doors to personalized, impactful nutritional strategies. We can’t wait to see how their contributions continue to shape the future of gut health and prebiotic research.