Good Bacteria is diverse.

Dr. Frame combines nutrition and immunity through translational research, with experience ranging from biomedical research to clinical studies and program leadership. She earned her PhD in Human Nutrition and MHS in Immunology from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and graduated with Distinction in Biochemistry from Mary Baldwin College. With a career spanning the NIH, academia, and biotech, she is known for translating complex science into real-world strategies that foster whole-person care and systemic well-being.

Dr. Damman is a board-certified gastroenterologist and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington, with an MD from Columbia University and an MA in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry from Wesleyan University. Formerly the Gut Health Program Lead at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he brings a rare combination of clinical expertise, global health leadership, and microbiome science. His research explores how functional foods and dietary metabolites shape digestion, immunity, and metabolic resilience by engaging the body’s microbial and mitochondrial systems. Known for combining academic rigor with a visionary translational outlook, Dr. Damman reframes the microbiome as a central ingredient in health.

Dr. Drain is a materials scientist turned food innovator, bringing a unique perspective that bridges science, sustainability, and gastronomy. After earning his PhD in Materials Science from the University of Oxford, he shifted from academia to kitchens, working in Michelin-starred restaurants, food labs, and farms worldwide. He co-founded Win-Win (WNWN Food Labs), the first company to bring cocoa-free chocolate to market, and has collaborated with leading chefs, brands, and cultural institutions—including Noma’s Nordic Food Lab, Mirazur, Dandelyan, Silo, Prada, and the BBC. Known for translating complex science into accessible ideas, his work centers on fermentation as a tool to unlock flavor, nutrition, and more sustainable food futures.

Dr. Christine Avena is an interdisciplinary scientist with experience across biotech, consumer health, and academia, leading projects that connect the microbiome to human and animal health. Her work spans early discovery in the lab, clinical trial management, biomarker data generation, and development of data packages for consumer products. Prior to her focus on skin, vaginal, and gut health, she spent a decade studying host–microbial interactions in wildlife, and has also led research in conservation biology, agriculture, and ecosystem services. She holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado Boulder, an MS in Conservation Medicine from Tufts University.

Dr. Azcarate-Peril is a microbiologist and Director of the UNC Microbiome Core at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research examines how the gut microbiome influences human health, with a focus on probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary interventions that modulate microbial diversity and resilience. A widely published leader in the field, she has advanced understanding of how targeted microbial inputs can support digestive, immune, and metabolic function, while also mentoring the next generation of microbiome scientists.

Dr. Caffrey is a microbiologist whose research at Stanford School of Medicine’s Sonnenburg Lab explores how fermented foods shape human health. Her work focuses on the microbial metabolites produced during fermentation and how they influence the gut microbiome, immune signaling, and metabolic health. She is also co-host of the Fermentation Speaker Series, where she brings together leading voices across science, food, and culture to advance understanding of fermentation’s role in human well-being.

Roshonda B. Jones, PhD is a computational microbiome researcher and bioinformatician whose work bridges early-life nutrition, gut development, and metabolic health. She earned her PhD in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from UNC Charlotte and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where her work focused on how diet shapes the developing microbiome in early life. She is now an Assistant Professor in Biology at North Carolina A&T State University. Her research continues to explore diet–microbe interactions and their impact on long-term health, with the goal of leveraging these insights to prevent, diagnose, and treat metabolic disorders.

Ashley is a Board-Certified Nutrition Specialist and functional nutritionist with expertise in digestive health, inflammation, and hormonal and metabolic balance. She holds a master’s degree in Functional Medicine & Human Nutrition and is trained to integrate advanced clinical testing, nutrition science, and lifestyle strategies to address the interconnected systems of the body. Known for turning complex information into clear, practical guidance, Ashley helps clients strengthen resilience at the microbiome–immune interface and build lasting health.