Annabel Biruete, PhD

2025 Carl W. Gottschalk Research Scholar Grant

Institution: Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University

Project Title: Dietary Fiber in Chronic Kidney Disease

How would you sum up your overall research focus in one sentence?

My research aims to study the effects of nutritional and pharmacological therapies on the gastrointestinal tract, the gut microbiome, and outcomes in chronic kidney disease.

Provide a brief overview of the research you will conduct with help from the grant.

This Transition to Independence grant will support a proof-of-concept study evaluating the effects of two dietary fibers—inulin and psyllium—on mineral balance and homeostasis. The resulting pilot data will help establish feasibility, estimate effect sizes for key outcomes, and inform sample size calculations for my first independent R01 application. This work will lay the foundation for a future randomized clinical trial.

What inspired you to focus your research in this area?

I have been fascinated by the potential of dietary fiber in chronic kidney disease (CKD). During my PhD, I investigated how a prebiotic fiber (inulin) could modulate mineral homeostasis and the gut microbiome in individuals undergoing hemodialysis. As a postdoctoral fellow, I extended this work using a rat model of progressive CKD, where inulin improved all three hallmarks of CKD–mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Now, in my lab at Purdue, we have broadened our investigation to include other types of fibers and have observed similarly beneficial outcomes. Our goal is to translate these promising preclinical findings into clinical studies to determine whether these effects extend to individuals with CKD.

What impact do you hope your research will have on patients?

My previous interactions with individuals living with chronic kidney disease have grounded my research by continually reminding me of the real-world impact our interventions can have on patient-centered outcomes. If our hypothesis is correct, we may be able to recommend simple, accessible dietary strategies to improve mineral and bone disorder–related outcomes in this population.

What are your career goals at the end of the grant period? Five years out? Ten years out?

My long-term career goal is to improve outcomes in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) through nutritional interventions. By the end of the grant period, I aim to generate the preliminary data needed to apply for larger federal grants. Over the next five to ten years, I envision leading large, multi-center pragmatic clinical trials focused on lifestyle interventions for CKD. I am also committed to mentoring the next generation of nutrition scientists with a passion for nephrology.

What has surprised you most about your career?

There are several things, but I'll mention a few. When I started my PhD, I didn't initially consider a career in academia—but about halfway through, it became clear that this was the path I wanted to pursue. Coming from Mexico, I never imagined I would one day be leading a lab at an elite institution like Purdue. Finally, it has been incredibly rewarding to continue and expand the dietary fiber research story that began during my PhD.

Something you may not know about me is…

I was born and raised in Mexico City, where I trained as a dietitian before starting my career as a nutrition scientist in the United States.

In my free time…

I like to spend time with my family, including my 2-year-old son, husband, dog, and extended family. I also really like to travel and experience "life" in other countries, especially through their cuisine.