Danone North America, a purpose-driven food and beverage company and one of the world's largest Certified B Corporations, is proud to unveil the 2024-2025 recipients of its Annual Gut Microbiome, Yogurt and Probiotic Fellowship Program. This year's grants have been awarded to Owen Hale of Vanderbilt University and Ella Ramamurthy of Rice University, each receiving $25,000 to support innovative research aimed at deepening scientific understanding of yogurt, probiotics and the gut microbiome.

Now in its 13th year, the fellowship program has contributed more than half a million dollars in funding to support emerging research and empower the next generation of scientific leaders working at the intersection of nutrition, health and the gut microbiome. Grant winners are selected based solely on their scientific merit and potential contribution to the scientific community, regardless of any benefit to Danone's business. 

"As interest in gut health continues to grow, it's critical that we support early-stage research that helps uncover how probiotic-rich foods, like certain fermented dairy products, can influence human health," said Miguel Freitas, PhD, vice president of nutrition and scientific affairs at Danone North America. "Owen and Ella's projects stood out for their scientific merit and potential impact, and we're excited to see the discoveries their work will bring to light."

Growing consumer demand for functional foods—which contain probiotics, fiber or other nutrients and offer health benefits above and beyond their basic nutritional value—reflects a broader interest in wellness and targeted nutrition. The gut microbiome has been linked to benefits across brain, digestive and immune function, making it a key focus area for researchers and health professionals alike.

Recipient Hale's research will examine eco-evolutionary processes within the microbiome that affect human health, which contributes to identifying the causes and consequences of dysbiosis. More specifically, the aim of his research project is to understand the long-term effects of antimicrobial compounds produced by Lactobacilli, commonly included in probiotics and yogurt fermentation, on Enterobacteria. "I hope my discoveries will inform the development of evolutionarily sustainable treatments or preventative strategies that will protect people from harmful bacteria linked to dysbiosis, inflammation and infection," says Hale.

The goal of Ramamurthy's research is to engineer a probiotic bacterium to import, sense and produce neurotransmitters to maintain healthy levels in the gut and better understand the interactions between gut and human health and wellness, including reducing depression and anxiety. "This funding underscores the significance of probiotics in maintaining neurotransmitter homeostasis in the gut microbiome," explains Ramamurthy. "With Danone North America's support, I'm excited to study the gut-brain axis and develop interventions to restore a healthy gut microbiota and improve overall wellness."

The Danone Fellowship Grant was launched in 2010 as part of the company's commitment to advancing nutrition research and supporting emerging talent in the field. Each year, winners are selected by an expert panel based on proposal quality, faculty recommendations and relevance to human health and wellness. The grant funding is unrestricted and the research projects are completed without the oversight or involvement of Danone.