Leading Probiotic and Prebiotic Researchers Form Synbiotic Solutions Company

A group of leading researchers in the field of probiotics, prebiotics, and fermented foods has come together to form Synbiotic Solutions—a Nebraska-based limited liability company focused on developing the highest quality synbiotic products for the food and supplements industries.

The academic co-founders of the company bring together decades of experience and have authored dozens of scientific papers in the field. They are:

  • Robert W. Hutkins, PhD: Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska; Board of Directors, International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics; ‘Food Doc’ media columnist in the Lincoln Journal Star. Throughout his career, Dr. Hutkins has been recognized repeatedly for excellence in research and teaching. His lab studies bacteria in fermented foods and in human health.
  • Andy Benson, PhD: Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska; Presidential Chair and Director of the Nebraska Food for Health Center. Dr. Benson’s research program focuses on human genetics and their influence on the microbiome, and how dietary factors can modify the impact of host genetics.
  • Thomas Burkey, PhD: Professor of Non-Ruminant Nutrition at the University of Nebraska. Dr. Burkey is an expert in animal nutrition, digestive physiology, and muscosal immunity. More specifically, his research focuses on in vivo and in vitro effects of prebiotics and probiotics on growth, immunity, and nutrient transport.
  • Jens Walter, PhD: Professor and CAIP Chair for Nutrition, Microbes, and Gastrointestinal Health at the University of Alberta (Canada). Dr. Walter’s expertise lies at the interface of evolutionary ecology of the gut microbiome and human nutrition. He is especially interested in the evolutionary and ecological processes that have shaped the host-microbiome interrelationship, and the translation of basic discoveries in this area into therapeutic and nutritional strategies that can modulate microbiomes for improved health.