Professor and Director
University of Illinois
Dr. de Mejia is a world leader in the health benefits of bioactive compounds in plants, and she has engaged in reducing disease and promoting health and wellness as a global priority. The goals of nutrition and wellness efforts include reducing mortality as well as enhancing quality of life. Dr. de Mejia’s research investigates how bioactive compounds in a variety of foods (teas, soy, beans, cereals, herbs, fruits) impact human health. She has investigated whole and individual plant components for their effects on obesity, diabetes, and cancer. These diseases collectively have an enormous global impact, with lost years of life and productivity cited as the largest drain on the global economy compared to other causes of death, including infectious diseases.