External Partners Program

External Partners Program

The External Partners Program for the Personalized Nutrition Initiative was designed to create opportunities for university and external researchers to learn from each other and accelerate translational developments in personalized nutrition. Through regular and structured discussions, science symposia, and potential collaborative research projects, our Personalized Nutrition Initiative campus researchers will learn about trends in industrial products and research needs, and our external colleagues will learn about campus-based personalized nutrition research as well as having the opportunity to share ideas with each other in a non-competitive environment.

External Partners advise the Director on a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, prioritizing research initiatives, strategic planning, procedures, events, and the future structure and focus of the External Partners Program. An External Partner is a company, association, or other entity outside of academia. External partners are invited by the Director to join the External Partners Program for an annual fee. Each Partner will identify two representatives, one of which will also serve on the Personalized Nutrition Initiative External Advisory Committee.

 

2024-2025 External Partner Program Members

  • General Mills

  • Mars Wrigley

  • National Dairy Council

  • PepsiCo

  • Pharmavite

 

New Publications

Perspective: Challenges for Personalized Nutrition in the Current U.S. Regulatory
Framework  and Future Opportunities

The manuscript from our regulatory workshop organized at Illinois with our External Advisors, External Partners, and expert speakers has been accepted for publication and is already available online in the Advances in Nutrition.

 

Andrew Bremer, Director, Office of Nutrition Research, National Institutes of Health, wrote an editorial in the same issue that sets the stage for this timely and important topic. This work is also highlighted in an excellent article in NutraIngredients.

Co-Authors

  • Sharon M Donovan, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Mariette Abrahams, Qina
  • Joshua C Anthony, Nlumn
  • Robert Bergia, ADM
  • Gil Blander, InsideTracker
  • Tristin D Brisbois, PepsiCo
  • Anna-Sigrid Keck, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Edwin G Moore, BioPhia Consulting and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Timothy A Morck, Spectrum Nutrition
  • Kristin M Nieman, Nlumn
  • Jose M Ordovas, JM-USDA-Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University
  • Alison Steiber, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Barbara L Winters, Nlumn
  • Thuyvan Wu, Pharmavite


Abstract: Personalized Nutrition (PN) aims to provide tailored dietary recommendations to improve a person’s health outcomes by integrating a multitude of individual-level information and support desired behavior changes. The field is rapidly evolving with technological advances. As new biomarkers are discovered, wearables and other devices can now provide up-to-the-minute insights, and artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models support recommendations and lifestyle behavior change. Advancements in the field enhance the potential for tailored and effective programs but raises important questions regarding user safety, security, health, transparency, and privacy. The Personalized Nutrition Initiative at the University of Illinois held the workshop, “Challenges for Personalized Nutrition in the Current U.S. Regulatory Framework and Future Opportunities,” to address regulatory implications of current PN programs, future innovation within the current framework, and existing complexities of oversight. A majority of PN programs combine multiple components and these components may need to be regulated differently. The areas of food, supplements, in vitro diagnostics, and medical and wellness devices were described and discussed as they apply to PN programs. The speakers and discussants concluded that regulatory guidance for PN programs should focus on ensuring (i) safety and accuracy of the tests and devices, (ii) credentialed and skilled experts develop the advice, (iii) responsible and clear communication of information and benefits, (iv) substantiation of scientific claims, and (v) procedures are implemented to protect user privacy. Furthermore, as this field incorporates new devices, biomarkers, behavior-based tools, and the integration of AI and ML, the need to adapt the existing regulatory framework was also considered. Working closely with regulatory bodies is required and should be an opportunity to provide users with transparency, build trust, and create a source of differentiation for PN innovators.

 

 

Review Article: Personalized Nutrition: Perspectives on Challenges, Opportunities,
and Guiding Principles for Data Use and Fusion

We are excited to share our new review article in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, which is the outcome of our data workshop organized in Illinois with our External Advisors, External Partners, and expert speakers.

 

 

Co-Authors

  • Sharon M Donovan, Illinois
  • Mariette Abrahams, Qina
  • Joshua C Anthony, Nlumn
  • Ying Bao, Illinois
  • Maribel Barragan, Illinois
  • Kate M. Bermingham, Zoe Ltd and King’s College London
  • Gil Blander, InsideTracker
  • Anna-Sigrid Keck, Illinois
  • Bruce Y. Lee, City University of New York
  • Kristin M Nieman, Nlumn
  • Jose M Ordovas, JM-USDA-Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University
  • Victor Penev, Edamam, LLC
  • Machiel J. Reinders, Wageningen University & Research
  • Kris Sollid, International Food Information Council
  • Sumeet Thosar, Illinois
  • Barbara L Winters, Nlumn


Abstract: Personalized nutrition (PN) delivers tailored dietary guidance by integrating health, lifestyle, and behavioral data to improve individual health outcomes. Recent technological advances have enhanced access to diverse data sources, yet challenges remain in collecting, integrating, and analyzing complex datasets. To address these, the Personalized Nutrition Initiative at Illinois organized a workshop titled “Personalized Nutrition Data: Challenges & Opportunities,” which gathered experts to explore three essential data domains in PN: 1) health and biological, 2) social, behavioral, and environmental, and 3) consumer purchasing data. Discussions underscored the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration to standardize data collection, enable secure data sharing, and develop data fusion techniques that respect privacy and build trust. Participants emphasized the need for representative datasets that include underserved populations, ensuring that PN services are accessible and equitable. Key principles for responsible data integration were proposed, alongside strategies to overcome barriers to effective data use. By addressing these challenges, PN can enhance health outcomes through precise, personalized recommendations tailored to diverse population needs.