Dr. Prakash has established a long-standing and world-renowned reputation as a pioneer in the fields of microbiome and probiotics, and human health. His research has led to the discovery of novel links between microflora, metabolic pathways, and diseases. He also developed novel microbiome-based therapy platforms, which have the potential to transform modern medicine and human health.

Research 

Dr. Prakash is considered the father of enzyme mechanism-based therapeutic probiotics. He was the first to propose that bacterial by oral feeding can be used to modulate gut microbiota and metabolites, and to treat complex diseases such kidney failure. These findings were published in the prestigious journal, Nature Medicine (Prakash and Chang, Nature Medicine, 1996). Since then, he has transformed the microbiome human health research and probiotic industry through his range of discoveries and entrepreneurships.

One of his renowned discoveries in the field of microbiota and probiotics is that microbial bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity modulates local and systemic host metabolic functions. Based on his findings, he designed a BSH-active probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri to lower cholesterol. This formulation is patented in several countries, including the US (US9637729B2, US60/450,334), Canada (CA2517245C), Japan JP2015127338A, and internationally (WO2004076657A3, WO2004076657A2). This discovery was discussed in more than 250 newspapers globally including The NY Times, Gradients, CNN, and others.

Another significant contribution of Professor Prakash is his groundbreaking finding that ferulic acid esterase (FAE) can alter the gut microbiome’s composition and metabolic activities. He went one step further to develop an FAE active probiotic formulation, which can ameliorate non alcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating the gut microenvironment (US Patent 61/349,270). He also demonstrated that live bacteria can suppress colon cancer progression by regulating inflammation. More recently, he showed that the crosstalk between the gut microbiome and host metabolites regulate the development and progression of chronic diseases, including diabetes, metabolic disorders, and neurodegeneration.

Professor Prakash is also internationally known for his recent innovative studies on the role of the gut microbiome on longevity, aging and the onset of age-related disorders including Alzheimer’s and Par made the remarkable discovery that a combination of probiotics with Triphala, a poly-herbal formulation that has been used in Ayurveda, can extend life by up to 60% by modulating the gut microbiota (Westfall and Prakash; Nature Scientific Report, 2018). His findings on the potential of probiotics to promote longevity was globally featured in more than 350 news media outlets in 2018 and 2019 and still much of discussion in prestigious media such as SUN, Business Standard, Economics, Guardian, GE News, and business community. He also recently developed a novel symbiotic formulation that delays Alzheimer’s by modulating the gut-brain-axis. His current Google scholar citation is currently ranked 6th globally for the term “Probiotics”; 9th for “chronic diseases”; and 13th for “Biomedicine” with an impressive approximately 20000 citations.

Entrepreneurial Endeavors

In 2003 Dr. Prakash founded Micropharma, an innovative company that launched Cardioviva™, the world’s first Lactobacillus probiotic with a health claim. With global recognition and an investment of 22 Million USD from France Group Danone, Micropharma showcased a patented probiotic strain, LRC™ that has gained regulatory approval by the US FDA and Health Canada and has been consumed by millions globally since its launch. In 2019 alone, 38 million people used the LRC™ probiotics under various names to reduce blood cholesterol and improve overall health. Dr. Prakash’s success with Micropharma began a new era of BSH-based probiotics, allowing for a range of other strains to be sold and consumed by millions globally for lowering cholesterol, gut health and obesity.

Awards 

Dr. Prakash is the leading author of more than 350 research papers/abstracts and 23 book chapters, research, and other scholarly articles. His publication list includes 72 approved/pending patents and 3 edited books. Dr. Prakash is also the winner of more than 30 international awards including the “Medal for Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement of Science”, China Friendship Award Shandong, Fraser, Monat and McPherson Award, Canadian Institute of Health Research Investigator Award, FRSQ Chercheure‐Boursière, and other prestigious awards.