Naiman A Khan

Naiman A Khan is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, holding joint appointments in Kinesiology and Community Health, Nutritional Sciences, Neuroscience Program, and the Beckman Institute. As Associate Head for Research in Kinesiology and Community Health, he leads interdisciplinary initiatives at the intersection of nutrition, physical activity, and cognitive health. His work is affiliated with the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and the Personalized Nutrition Initiative.

Key research areas include cognitive function, obesity, metabolic health, and child development, with a focus on how dietary patterns, physical activity, and gut microbiota influence neurocognitive outcomes. He has pioneered studies on the MIND Diet, fecal microbiota biomarkers, and interventions targeting sedentary behavior in aging populations.

Recent work highlights include protocol development for the HIIT2SITLess trial (combining HIIT with reduced sitting), caregiver nutrition training services integration into Medicare, and machine learning models predicting cognitive outcomes. His research has been featured in high-impact journals like BMJ Open and the Journal of Nutrition, with over 146 peer-reviewed publications and media coverage in outlets like ScienceDaily and Healthline.

Collaborations span multiple disciplines, including clinical nutrition, neurophysiology, and bioinformatics. His lab emphasizes translational research, with current projects funded by NIH and industry partners. Khan also advocates for culturally inclusive healthcare practices, particularly in dietary interventions for diverse populations.