Prof. Kelly Swanson holding a microphone and speaking in front of a screen that shows the ISAPP logo.

ISAPP Board Scientist Honored by American Society for Nutrition as Inaugural Fellow

/in News /by KC

Prof. Kelly Swanson PhD from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a nutrition scientist from the ISAPP board of directors, has been named among 55 inaugural Excellence in Nutrition Fellows by the American Society for Nutrition (ASN).

The Excellence in Nutrition recognition program was established this year to honor major contributions in advancing nutrition science and practice, along with dedication to high standards within the nutrition profession. Each new Fellow, ten or more years past their terminal degree, was selected based on significant impact in the field of nutrition as well as active leadership and participation in ASN activities. Prof. Swanson received this honor in March.

Prof. Swanson is a leading researcher in the field of human and animal nutrition, with over 275 peer-reviewed publications. He is currently the Director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences, Kraft Heinz Company Endowed Professor in Human Nutrition, a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, and an adjunct professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine.

At the University of Illinois, his lab research focuses on gastrointestinal health and obesity in dogs, cats, and humans. To this end, the lab studies the effects of dietary interventions (dietary fibers, biotics, and other functional ingredients) on health outcomes and the gut microbiota, develops strategies to maintain a healthy body weight in obese pets, and evaluates the quality and digestibility of different protein sources for pet and human foods. Prof. Swanson has also been a valued mentor to many early career researchers.

“I am honored to have been selected as an inaugural excellence in nutrition fellow. Being a member of ASN for nearly 3 decades, I have benefited in many ways both professionally and personally.,” said Prof. Swanson. “Within the field of nutrition, biotics are a particularly promising strategy for supporting the health of humans and companion animals as well as the efficient production of agricultural animals for food. I look forward to continuing to contribute to this research area by evaluating how biotics affect the gastrointestinal, immune, and oral health of dogs, cats, and humans.”

Prof. Swanson has played a prominent role in ISAPP’s Board of Directors since 2020, providing perspectives on the use of biotics in both agricultural and companion animals, and contributing significantly to the organization’s scientific direction and outreach.

ISAPP’s executive director Marla Cunningham says, “Kelly has been instrumental in leading a variety of ISAPP activities for biotics and nutrition in both human and animal health – including our 2020 ISAPP consensus statement definition for synbiotics. Kelly is a strong contributor in the nutrition community and is a frequent speaker at conferences, supporting knowledge exchange and collaboration in the field. We’re delighted to see him achieve this recognition for his efforts.”