My research focuses on unravelling the molecular interactions which occur in the crosstalk between food, bacteria, and their human hosts. I have studied how human cells respond to commensal bacteria, as well as how pathogenic bacteria respond to their hosts at the molecular level. A key aspect of my current work involves developing and validating novel in vitro models to better mimic complex biological systems. For example, I have developed a dual-environment cell culture model of the intestinal barrier, which enables the co-culture of obligate anaerobic bacteria (organisms that cannot tolerate oxygen) with oxygen-requiring human intestinal cells. I have also worked on a gut-brain-axis cell model to study how food and microbial interactions may benefit brain health. Alongside these experimental approaches, I analyse a range of datasets, including microbiome data, to uncover meaningful insights into food-host-microbe interactions. Through these interdisciplinary approaches, my research aims to contribute to a better understanding of how diet and microbes influence health at both molecular and systemic levels.