Federico E. Rey

Federico E. Rey is a Professor of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, affiliated with the Department of Bacteriology under the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. His research focuses on the role of the gut microbiome in cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly how microbial metabolites like TMAO influence cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis. He holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Iowa and conducted postdoctoral research at Washington University.

Education:

• Licenciado en Bioquimica (B.S./M.S. equivalent) – Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina (1998)
• Ph.D. in Microbiology – University of Iowa (2006)

Research Interests:

Dr. Rey’s work explores microbial interactions with diet, host genetics, and disease mechanisms. Key areas include:

• Bacterial choline metabolism and TMAO production
• Butyrate-producing microbes and their anti-inflammatory roles
• Flavonoid metabolism and atherosclerosis modulation
• Microbial influences on Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers
• Host genetics shaping gut microbiome composition

Recent Findings:

His lab demonstrated that gut microbes modulate quercetin’s effects on atherosclerosis, identified TMAO’s role in neurodegeneration, and linked microbial strain diversity to engraftment success in transplants.

Awards:

• 2022-2023 ASM Distinguished Lecturer

Lab Team:

Includes graduate students (e.g., Hailey Bussan, Jessamine Kuehn) and postdocs (e.g., Mallikarjun Jillella, Lauren Lucas) working on microbiome projects. Active collaborations with researchers like Dr. Barbara Bendlin and Dr. Luigi Puglielli.

Labs/Teams:

Leads a multidisciplinary lab integrating microbiology, systems biology, and translational medicine. Collaborates with institutions like Washington University and the University of Iowa on microbiome studies.