Harvard lab creating blood-based markers to show what people eat
Metabolomics Core for the Dietary Biomarkers Development Center at Harvard University
This project builds lab methods to find molecules in blood that indicate recent food intake so researchers can measure diet more accurately.
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-11143148 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, scientists will use advanced mass spectrometry to look for small molecules in blood that come directly from foods or are produced when your body or gut microbes break down foods. They will run short controlled feeding sessions where volunteers eat specific foods to spot diet-related molecules, then create precise tests to measure those markers in larger groups. The Core uses high-resolution instruments and machine-learning tools to identify unknown compounds and confirm known ones with reference standards. Findings will be tested in broader human cohorts to validate which blood markers reliably reflect dietary intake.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People able to provide blood samples or participate in short controlled feeding sessions, including volunteers already enrolled in large nutrition studies, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who cannot give blood, follow controlled meals, or do not participate in related cohort studies are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to reliable blood tests that objectively track what people eat, improving nutrition guidance and disease prevention efforts.
How similar studies have performed: Previous metabolomics research has found some food-derived biomarkers, but this project aims to expand, standardize, and validate many more markers.
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: Clish, Clary B — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Clish, Clary 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.