In 2023, the Friedman Center established an Advisory Committee to oversee the scope, management and implementation of the Friedman Center cross-campus pilot grant program focused on diet, nutrition and inflammation. The cross-campus pilot grant program formally launched in January 2024. This program supports groundbreaking research in basic, clinical, translational and computational studies that examine the impact of diet and nutrition on microbiota, host defense, chronic inflammation, metabolic health and cancer.
Proposals involving a principal investigator from both campuses were encouraged, particularly for multi-PI projects, though not required. This pilot grant initiative aims to provide critical seed funding to support pioneering studies, helping researchers gather preliminary data to strengthen applications for subsequent multi-year NIH or foundation grants.
The inaugural round of the pilot grant program awarded five individual grants, each ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, to support junior faculty (within 10 years of their initial appointment without major NIH or related funding) and faculty at all career stages who are entering new research areas related to nutrition and inflammation. We are delighted to share the recipients of the 2024-2025 Friedman Center Pilot Grant Program.
Mohammad Arifuzzaman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Immunology in Medicine
The Role of Diet and Microbiota-Derived Metabolites in Intestinal Type 2 Inflammation
This study investigates the role of diet and microbiota-derived metabolites in driving intestinal type 2 inflammation and its link to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Preliminary findings in mice show that a high-fiber diet elevates bile acids, such as cholic acid, leading to type 2 inflammation, eosinophilia, and worsened intestinal inflammation and CRC outcomes. These results highlight the potential impact of dietary and microbiota interactions on IBD pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies.
Nicholas Collins, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Immunology in Medicine
Harnessing Nutrition- Microbiota Crosstalk to Enhance Immunological Memory
This study addresses the urgent need for strategies to enhance immunological memory against emerging pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Previous research demonstrated that caloric restriction (CR) improves pathogen control by increasing memory CD8+ T cell-derived IFNγ and Bifidobacteria-derived acetate, which enhance monocyte pathogen-killing ability. This pilot study aims to investigate how CR reprograms CD8+ T cell metabolism and modulates monocyte epigenetics to boost immune response. The findings could lead to innovative therapies that mimic the immune-enhancing effects of CR, aligning with the Friedman Center’s mission to explore the links between nutrition, microbiota, and inflammation.
Chun-Jun Guo, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Immunology in Medicine
Microbiota Metabolic Control of the Tumor Microenvironment
This study focuses on microbiota amino acid metabolism (MAAM) and its impact on cancer progression, as dysregulated amino acid metabolism is common in cancer patients. By using innovative tools, including a gnotobiotic mouse model and gene editing in gut microbes, the research aims to identify MAAM pathways and their effects on the tumor microenvironment. These findings could uncover new therapeutic strategies targeting microbiota metabolism in cancer.
Elizabeth Johnson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Molecular Nutrition, Cornell University
Modulation of Diet-Induced Inflammatory Disorders by Gut Microbial Sphingolipids
Gut microbial sphingolipids play a key role in regulating host inflammatory responses and may link gut microbiome composition to inflammation-related diseases. This study aims to trace microbial lipids to immune cells and explore how sphingolipid synthesis impacts systemic inflammation, including high- sugar diet-induced skin inflammation. The findings could advance microbiome-based therapeutics for inflammatory diseases.
Melody Zeng, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Immunology in Medicine
Interrogating the Role of Maternal High Fructose Diet in Neurodevelopment via the Gut- Brain Axis
This study examines how a maternal high-fructose diet affects offspring neurodevelopment through the gut-brain axis. Preliminary findings reveal that maternal fructose intake during pregnancy and nursing disrupts neuroimmune regulation and leads to behavioral changes in offspring. The research aims to uncover the mechanisms of fructose-induced immune imprinting and identify gut microbiome- driven pathways, potentially guiding interventions