Katie Holton: from Washington to Montpellier with Fulbright
Katie Holton is an affiliate professor in the Department of Health Sciences and the Department of Neuroscience at American University in Washington, D.C., USA. Her work focuses on the harmful effects of food additives on neurological symptoms, as well as the protective effects of certain micronutrients on the brain. She will be hosted at the Desbret Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health (Idesp) from January to May 2026.
His award-winning research project is entitled: "Assessment of the Impact of Food Processing on Mental Health Outcomes in France." Its objective? To study the French diet in order to identify all dietary sources of free glutamate (the main component of food additives used to enhance flavor in ultra-processed products), then to examine the extent to which consumption of these additives could be associated with mental health issues in France.
Throughout her mobility period in Montpellier, which will last from January to May 2026, Katie Holton will work in collaboration with Tasnime Akbaraly, a researcher at Inserm specializing in nutrition, at the Institut Desbret d'épidémiologie et de santé publique (Idesp).
The University of Montpellier and the Franco-American Fulbright Commission have signed an agreement establishing research grants for researchers affiliated with the University who wish to visit an American university or research institute, and vice versa. These grants cover mobility for 3 to 12 months, depending on the research project.