Blood and urine tests to identify what people eat
Dietary Biomarkers Development Center at Harvard University
This project will create blood- and urine-based tests that reveal which foods people eat by measuring metabolic fingerprints from volunteers who eat specific foods.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143140 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers will give people defined portions of common foods (like chicken, beef, soy, whole wheat bread, potatoes, and oats) and collect blood and urine samples over time. They will use advanced lab methods (high-resolution LC-MS metabolomics) to find chemical signatures that match each food and its dose. The center will run controlled feeding and pharmacokinetic studies to see how long markers appear and how they change with different amounts. The results will be cataloged as a shared resource for other researchers and public health agencies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults willing to eat specified foods under supervised conditions and provide timed blood and urine samples.
Not a fit: People with severe food allergies, those unable to follow controlled diets, or individuals seeking immediate medical treatment rather than research participation are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could someday have objective tests to confirm dietary intake, improving personalized nutrition advice and diet-related health management.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller prior studies have identified some food-specific metabolite markers, but this center aims to validate and expand those findings across more foods and doses.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Frank B — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Hu, Frank B
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.