Giuliana Noratto Stevens

Professional Summary

Dr. Noratto, originally from Peru, is a Research Scientist at Texas A&M University. Her expertise centers on dietary compounds and plant phytochemicals that support human health through two key mechanisms:

1. Activity in the upper gastrointestinal tract, where they modulate cell-signaling pathways involved in preventing or reversing disease; and
2. Activity in the lower intestinal tract, where they influence gut microbial populations and their metabolites to improve obesity-related and other chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Her research—spanning in vitro cell culture, in vivo animal models, and human clinical trials—has revealed multiple biological pathways by which dark sweet cherry consumption benefits host health and reduces risk factors associated with obesity. She is also conducting ongoing studies on the effects of dark sweet cherry bioactive compounds on breast cancer, focusing on polyphenols’ roles in detoxification pathways, overcoming multidrug resistance, and reducing metastatic potential in vivo.

Currently, Dr. Noratto is leading a follow-up human clinical trial investigating the gut microbiota–liver–brain axis using a multi-omics strategy that integrates transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic datasets.

Dr. Giuliana’s doctoral student, Ana Emilia Nava, has successfully completed her Ph.D. and will graduate in December 2025.