Hanlon advances personalized nutrition through microbiome research

Kalem Hanlon's work sits at the intersection of dietary fiber, the gut microbiome and precision nutrition: a field that explores how genetics, environment and microbiome composition shape individual responses to food. 

After experiencing gut issues for much of his life, he became driven to uncover why the same food can benefit one person while offering no advantage, or even discomfort, to another. And when he's not studying how diet shapes microbial health in the Angela Poole lab, you'll likely find him pushing his limits as an Ironman endurance athlete, competing in races around the world. 
 

Q: What inspired your research?

A: My research focuses on the impact of different dietary fiber types on the human gut microbiome composition and functionality. Our lab studies this through the lens of precision nutrition, where an individual’s genetics, microbiome and environment can determine the dietary patterns that offer the greatest benefit. Having dealt with gut issues and dysbiosis for most of my life, understanding why foods affect people so differently has always been deeply important to me.

Q: What impact do you hope your work will have?

A: I hope this work will deepen our understanding of how specific dietary components interact with and influence the gut microbiome. Ultimately, the goal is to empower people to use microbiome-informed nutrition to promote metabolic health and prevent chronic disease — moving beyond generalized dietary guidelines toward personalized, high-impact nutrition strategies.