FoodSeq: Using Genomics to Track and Study Diet – Lawrence David

Abstract
Dietary assessment is crucial for understanding the relationship between diet and health. Yet traditional recall-based methods for tracking diet often face challenges like participant compliance and accurate recall. To address these issues, our lab at Duke University has developed FoodSeq, a genomic approach to track food intake through DNA sequencing of stool samples. In this talk, I will explain how FoodSeq can identify and quantify dietary species, allowing for objective and comprehensive monitoring of food consumption. We will explore the methodology behind FoodSeq, including DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing, as well as data analysis. I will then present case studies demonstrating how FoodSeq can be used in clinical studies involving patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant, highlighting the potential to contribute insights into nutrition, health, and the microbiome.