FOOD, GENES, and BRAINS

“The goal of our lab is to understand how nutrients change the ways we perceive and interact with the world”


During the Age of Discovery, sailors often experienced visions of exquisite banquets and verdant fields. Some even leaped overboard, trying to reach the food or touch the land. Many thought these hallucinations to be caused by the loneliness of many months at sea. The real cause, however, was a lack of vitamin C.

Nutrients like vitamin C can talk to our genes and shape the way our brains function. The goal of our lab is to study this intimate interaction between FOOD, GENES, & BRAINS and understand how it influences health and disease.

We also want to empower people with the knowledge and tools to advocate for food environments that support healthier and happier lives.