Athanasios Koutsos

Dr. Athanasios Koutsos serves as a Lecturer in Human Nutrition within the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing at the University of Glasgow, joining in October 2021. His academic foundation includes a 5-year Food Science degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2008), an MSc in Nutrition from the University of Reading (2011) funded by the Greek State Foundation Scholarship, and a PhD from the University of Reading (2017) focused on apple fiber and polyphenols' effects on cardiovascular risk factors.

His research centers on the gut microbiota-diet-health axis, investigating how specific foods and components modulate gut microbiome composition and activity to influence cardiovascular, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. Using in vitro human gut models and dietary intervention studies, he examines mechanisms behind dietary impacts on conditions like hypercholesterolemia. Recent publications reveal a strong focus on apple polyphenols, LDL cholesterol dynamics, and microbiome-metabolome interactions, with notable contributions to understanding how saturated fat replacement affects cardiovascular biomarkers.

Dr. Koutsos contributes to the MSc in Human Nutrition program, co-leading the Clinical Nutrition Specialisation course. His active research portfolio includes major grants such as:

• Microbiome and Exclusive Enteral Nutrition in Presurgical Crohn's Disease (Helmsley Charitable Trust, 2024-2028)
• Discovery Award (Scottish Funding Council, 2024-2025)
• Development of Ulcerative Colitis Treatment with Eating Diet (Cure Crohn's Colitis, 2023-2027)
• Optimising Response to Biological Therapy with UC-TREAT (Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity, 2023-2027)

His work bridges fundamental microbiome science with clinical nutritional applications, particularly for gastrointestinal and cardiometabolic disorders.