About
My research focuses on the complex interactions between nutrition, the gut microbiome, muscle health, and cardiovascular function across the ageing trajectory. As populations age globally, the burden of cardiometabolic diseases—including cardiovascular disease, heart failure (HF), and the emerging concept of the cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic (CKM) syndrome—continues to rise. Understanding how modifiable lifestyle factors influence these interconnected biological systems is therefore essential for improving long-term health and preventing disease progression.
A central theme of my work is the diet–gut–muscle–heart axis. Diet is a major determinant of gut microbiome composition and function, which in turn influences host metabolism through bioactive metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and other gut-derived compounds. These metabolites can affect systemic inflammation, lipid metabolism, glucose regulation, and vascular health—key mechanisms underlying cardiometabolic disease. At the same time, ageing is associated with progressive changes in muscle mass and function (sarcopenia), which interact with metabolic health and contribute to frailty, reduced physical capacity, and poorer cardiovascular outcomes.
My research aims to identify how dietary patterns and nutritional strategies can beneficially modulate the gut microbiome and metabolic pathways to support healthy ageing and reduce cardiometabolic risk. By integrating nutritional science, microbiome research, metabolomics, and clinical cardiology, this work seeks to uncover mechanistic links between diet, microbial metabolism, and cardiovascular health. Particular emphasis is placed on translating these insights into practical, scalable interventions—such as personalised nutrition approaches—that can support prevention and management of conditions including heart failure and CKM syndrome.
Ultimately, this research contributes to a growing field that recognises the importance of systems-level approaches to chronic disease prevention. By better understanding the interactions between diet, the gut microbiome, muscle physiology, and cardiovascular function, we can develop more effective strategies to promote healthier ageing and improve outcomes for individuals at risk of cardiometabolic disease.