AMR Seminar: Elad Tako, Cornell University

Cornell Center for Antimicrobial Resistance Research & Education Fall Seminar Series 2026

Title: Designing Food for Health: Roles of Plant Bioactives in Gut Functionality, Microbiome Dynamics, and Inflammation Across In Vivo Systems

Speaker Bio: Dr.Elad Tako holds degrees in Animal Science (B.S.), Endocrinology (M.S.), and Physiology/Nutrigenomics (Ph.D.) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. He completed his postdoctoral training in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University, followed by an appointment as Lead Physiologist at the USDA-ARS Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, before joining Cornell University as faculty. 
Dr. Tako’s research focuses on trace mineral deficiencies and the molecular, physiological, and nutritional factors that regulate intestinal micronutrient absorption. His program also investigates how plant-derived bioactive compounds influence intestinal functionality, morphology, and the gut microbiome under both health and disease conditions. With more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and presentations, he leads a multidisciplinary research team examining interactions among dietary factors, physiological and molecular biomarkers, microbial ecology, and intestinal function.