09 Feb 2022

Diet, Microbial Metabolites, and Cancer Disparities

Discover how dietary choices influence gut microbiome dynamics and contribute to differential cancer risks.

This presentation delves into the complex connections between diet, microbial metabolites, and disparities in cancer health. It examines how dietary patterns shape the gut microbiome and influence the production of metabolites that can impact cancer risk, either positively or negatively. The session emphasizes the role of inequitable access to quality foods in shaping different microbial profiles across populations, contributing to varying cancer risks. By considering the social and structural factors that shape dietary behaviors, the presentation aims to highlight the importance of targeted interventions to improve dietary access, foster healthier gut environments, and reduce cancer disparities among at-risk groups.

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Dr. Wolf completed her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences, focusing on microbial sulfur metabolism, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During her graduate training, she also finished the Didactic Program in Dietetics, becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.She then served as a postdoctoral fellow in the Cancer Education and Career Development Program NCI T32 at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Wolf is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where her research investigates microbial mechanisms behind cancer health disparities related to inequitable food access and quality. Utilizing molecular microbiology techniques and novel enzyme characterization, she studies the metabolic capacity of the human gut microbiome. Dr. Wolf examines how dietary intake influences microbial ecology and the formation of harmful metabolites linked to cancer risk. Her future work will focus on the relationships between neighborhood food environments and microbial metabolism to help mitigate cancer disparities in vulnerable populations.