Danielle Defries

Danielle Defries, PhD, is an Assistant Professor and Chair in the Gupta Faculty of Kinesiology and Applied Health at the University of Winnipeg. She specializes in nutritional science, focusing on obesity and type-2 diabetes prevention through dietary strategies. Her research bridges nutritional interventions, metabolic pathways, and public health outcomes.

Teaching responsibilities include courses such as KIN 2501: Nutrition Health and Wellness, KIN 2204: Human Physiology, and KIN 4601: Nutrition for Exercise and Sport Performance. She holds a Doctoral degree from the University of Manitoba (2013), with her thesis investigating buckwheat’s effects on glycemia.

Research grants include the Gupta Faculty Research Grant (2015) for studying glucose transport mechanisms in liver cells. Her work spans peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and conferences, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to metabolic health and diabetes prevention.

Key contributions include exploring functional foods (e.g., buckwheat, flaxseed) for glycemic control, lipid metabolism in obesity, and adipokine roles in metabolic syndrome. She actively engages in public health initiatives, such as diabetes education programs for at-risk youth and improving clinical guidelines adherence.