Food Scientist · Lipid Biologist · Cardiometabolic Researcher · Founder

Dr. Simon
Okomo Aloo

Monash University – Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute | Tracing Lipid Metabolism to Uncover Genetic Drivers of Cardiometabolic Disease | Using Stable-Isotope Tracers to Map How Genetic Variants Alter Lipid Metabolic Flux.

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Simon Okomo Aloo
30Publications
960+Google Scholar Citations
16H-Index
27Q1 Articles

// 01 — Profile

About Me
The researcher behind the science

Dr. Aloo is an interdisciplinary food and biomedical scientist working at the intersection of food systems, nutrition, Gut Microbiota, lipid metabolism, and metabolic health. Aloo holds a BSc (First Class Honours) in Food Science and Nutrition from Karatina University, Kenya, and a Master’s and PhD in Food Science and Biotechnology from Kangwon National University (KNU), Republic of Korea. Aloo is currently pursuing a second PhD in Biomedicine at Monash University-Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Australia.

He has been a recipient of the Government of Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate (GKS-U), Government of Korea Scholarship for Graduate (GKS-G) studies, Brain Korea (BK) Fellowship, Bring Excellent Student to Kangwon National University (BEST-KNU) Scholarship, Monash Graduate Scholarship (MGS), and Baker Bright Spark Scholarship. He has also received several awards, including the Korean Ministry of Education Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, KNU Outstanding Research Achievement Awards for both Master’s and PhD research, Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition (KFN) Excellent Award, Korean Society of Food Science and Technology (KoSFoST) Excellent Award, and Global Youth Leader Exchange Program Best Speaker’s Award.

His research aims to bridge fundamental molecular biology with nutrition, food systems, and public health. By linking lipid metabolism and genetic mechanisms to dietary exposures and disease risk, the work can improve understanding of cardiometabolic disease mechanisms while supporting the development of evidence-based nutritional strategies, therapeutic targets, and population-level food policies.

Beyond academics, Aloo is the Founder of the Alliance for Cardiometabolic Health and Research-Kenya (ACMHR-K), a non-profit advancing research, education, and advocacy for the prevention and management of cardiometabolic diseases. The organisation provides a platform connecting scientific research with practical public-health and food-policy action.

Lipidomics and metabolomics Stable-isotope lipid tracing Cell culture Mouse models of metabolic disease Metagenomics Health policy Fermentation Scientific Writing Nutritional biochemistry
Curriculum Vitae — Full academic record, publications & awards
⬇ Download CV

Previous Research

Developed probiotic-fermented plant-based foods with therapeutic potential against obesity and obesity-associated neurodegeneration — integrating C. elegans, mouse models, microbiome and metabolomics analyses.

Current Research

Developing and applying a stable-isotope lipid tracer approach to individualised cultured cells from human cohort studies to reveal genetic regulation of lipid metabolism. Findings will help in identifying genetic drivers of lipid dysregulation in cardiometabolic diseases.

Community Impact

Founder & Chairperson of ACMHR-K (Alliance for Cardiometabolic Health & Research – Kenya). Also mentors young Africans in pursuing international scholarships and research careers.

// 02 — Academic History

Education
A pursuit of excellence across continents

2025 — Present
Doctor of Philosophy — Biomedicine
Monash University-Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Australia
Tracing lipid metabolism to uncover lipid-mediated cardiometabolic disorder mechanisms
2022 — 2024
Doctor of Philosophy — Food Science & Biotechnology
Kangwon National University (KNU), Korea
Ameliorative effects of Pediococcus acidilactici KCTC 15831BP fermented hempseed on obesity and obesity-induced Alzheimer's disease
GPA 4.32/4.5 · 96% · KNU Award for Autstanding Research Achievement
2020 — 2022
Master's of Science — Food Science & Biotechnology
Kangwon National University (KNU), Korea
Anti-obesity effect of alfalfa sprout fermented with Pediococcus acidilactici in Caenorhabditis elegans model
GPA 4.49/4.5 · 99% · Ministry of Education (Deputy Prime Minster's) Award of Excellences
2014 — 2018
Bachelor's Science — Food Science & Nutrition
Karatina University, Kenya
Effects of processing on biochemical profile and proximate composition of tempeh made from lablab bean
GPA 3.82/4.0 · First Class Honours

// 03 — Research Output

Publications
30 total · 20 first-author · 9 top-10% journals

01 · FA
Trends in Food Scince and Technology (2026): 106045. 1. Aloo, Simon Okomo, Monicah Ndunda, and Silas Ambundo. "Industrial Trans Fat Elimination in African Food Systems: Reformulation Strategies, Regulatory Progress, Gaps, and Opportunities.
Aloo, Simon Okomo, Ramachandran Chelliah, Johnson Weru Ndungu, Lydiah Asiko, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Industrial hempseed extract mitigates high-fat diet–induced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and improves memory impairment in mouse
Food and Function 63
2025
105708 · FA
Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization 18, no. 9 (2024): 7868-7883. 4. Aloo, Okomo Simon, Feyera Gobena Gemechu, Hyun-Ji Oh, Emily Cherono Kilel, Ramachandran Chelliah, Girma Gonfa, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Harnessing fermentation for sustainable beverage production: A tool for improving the nutritional quality of coffee bean and valorizing coffee byproducts
3. Aloo, Simon Okomo, SeonJu Park, Ye-Jin Jeong, Tuaumelsan Shumye Gebre, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Characterization of different hempseed fractions after dehulling and defatting: Chemical composition and functional properties
Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology 59
2024
103263 · FA
Food Bioscience 60 (2024): 104389. 6. Aloo, Simon Okomo, Godfrey Mwiti, Louise Wanjiku Ngugi, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Uncovering the secrets of industrial hemp in food and nutrition: The trends, challenges, and new-age perspectives
5. Aloo, Okomo Simon, Dong-Gyu Kim, Selvakumar Vijayalakshmi, Denish Obiero Aloo, Charles O. Ochola, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Polyphenol constituents and impacts of fermented teas (Camellia sinensis) in human wellness
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 64, no. 15
2024
5112 · FA
Food Chemistry 439 (2024): 138086. 8. Aloo, Simon Okomo, Kaliyan Barathikannan, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Polyphenol-rich fermented hempseed ethanol extracts improve obesity, oxidative stress, and neural health in high-glucose diet-induced Caenorhabditis elegans
7. Aloo, Simon Okomo, SeonJu Park, Timilehin Martins Oyinloye, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Rheological properties, biochemical changes, and potential health benefits of dehulled and defatted industrial hempseeds after fermentation
Food Chemistry: X 21
2024
101233 · FA
Food Chemistry 428 (2023): 136722. 10. Aloo, Simon Okomo, Fred Kwame Ofosu, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Elicitation: a new perspective into plant chemo-diversity and functional property
9. Aloo, Simon Okomo, SeonJu Park, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Impacts of germination and lactic acid bacteria fermentation on anti-nutrients, bioactive compounds, and selected functional properties of industrial hempseed (Cannabis sativa L.)
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 63, no. 20
2023
4540 · FA
Food Bioscience 54 (2023): 102871. 12. Aloo, Simon Okomo, Fred Kwame Ofosu, Mary Njeri Muchiri, Selvakumar Vijayalakshmi, Choi-Geun Pyo, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "In Vitro Bioactivities of Commonly Consumed Cereal, Vegetable, and Legume Seeds as Related to Their Bioactive Components: An Untargeted Metabolomics Approach Using UHPLC–QTOF-MS2
11. Aloo, Simon Okomo, Kaliyan Barathikannan, Fred Kwame Ofosu, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Fermentation of ascorbic acid-elicited alfalfa sprouts further enhances their metabolite profile, antioxidant, and anti-obesity effects
Antioxidants 12, no. 8
2023
1501 · FA
Antioxidants 12, no. 2 (2023): 416. 14. Aloo, Simon Okomo, Fred Ofosu Kwame, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Identification of possible bioactive compounds and a comparative study on in vitro biological properties of whole hemp seed and stem
13. Aloo, Simon-Okomo, Fred Kwame Ofosu, Nam-Hyeon Kim, Sheila M. Kilonzi, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Insights on dietary polyphenols as agents against metabolic disorders: obesity as a target disease
Food Bioscience 51
2023
102329 · FA
Antioxidants 11, no. 2 (2022): 333. 16. Aloo, Simon-Okomo, Fred-Kwame Ofosu, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Effect of germination on alfalfa and buckwheat: phytochemical profiling by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, bioactive compounds, and in-vitro studies of their diabetes and obesity-related functions
15. Aloo, Simon Okomo, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "The functional interplay between gut microbiota, protein hydrolysates/bioactive peptides, and obesity: a critical review on the study advances
Antioxidants 10, no. 10
2021
17 · FA
Nutrients 13, no. 8 (2021): 2882. 18. Aloo, Simon-Okomo, Fred-Kwame Ofosu, Eric-Banan-Mwine Daliri, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS metabolite profiling of the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of red cabbage and broccoli seeds and sprouts
Aloo, Simon Okomo, Fred Kwame Ofosu, Sheila M. Kilonzi, Umair Shabbir, and Deog Hwan Oh. "Edible plant sprouts: Health benefits, trends, and opportunities for novel exploration
Antioxidants 10, no. 6
2021
20 · CA
Journal of Functional Foods 107 (2023): 105666. 21. Shabbir, Umair, Akanksha Tyagi, Fazle Elahi, Simon Okomo Aloo, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "The potential role of polyphenols in oxidative stress and inflammation induced by gut microbiota in alzheimer’s disease
Ofosu, Fred Kwame, Fazle Elahi, Eric Banan-Mwine Daliri, Simon Okomo Aloo, Ramachandran Chelliah, Sang-Ik Han, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Fermented sorghum improves type 2 diabetes remission by modulating gut microbiota and their related metabolites in high fat diet-streptozotocin induced diabetic mice
Antioxidants 10, no. 9
2021
1370 · CA
Food Research International 191 (2024): 114656. 23. Gebre, Tuaumelsan Shumye, Shimelis Admassu Emire, Ramachandran Chelliah, Simon Okomo Aloo, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Isolation, functional activity, and safety of probiotics from Ethiopian traditional cereal-based fermented beverage,“Borde”
22. Gebre, Tuaumelsan Shumye, Shimelis Admassu Emire, Simon Okomo Aloo, Ramachandran Chelliah, Selvakumar Vijayalakshmi, and Deog Hwan Oh. "Unveiling the potential of African fermented cereal-based beverages: Probiotics, functional drinks, health benefits and bioactive components
Lwt 184
2023
115076 · CA
Food Bioscience 56 (2023): 103065. 25. Gebre, Tuaumelsan Shumye, Shimelis Admassu Emire, Kaliyan Barathikannan, Simon Okomo Aloo, Ramachandran Chelliah, and Deog Hawn Oh. "UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS identification of metabolites in cereal beverage ‘borde’and its anti-obesity efficacy in Caenorhabditis elegans model
24. Vijayalakshmi, Selvakumar, Dae-Sang Yoo, Dong-Gyu Kim, Ramachandran Chelliah, Kaliyan Barathikannan, Simon-Okomo Aloo, Akanksha Tyagi et al. "Fermented Perilla frutescens leaves and their untargeted metabolomics by UHPLC-QTOF-MS reveal anticancer and immunomodulatory effects
Process Biochemistry 146
2024
336 · CA
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 253 (2023): 127330. 27. Yan, Pianpian, Simon Okomo Aloo, Lingyue Shan, Akanksha Tyagi, and Deog Hwan Oh. "Effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water on safety, antioxidant activity, and metabolite profile of buckwheat sprouts (Fagopyrum spp.)
26. Vijayalakshmi, Selvakumar, Jong-Rai Kim, Ramachandran Chelliah, Kaliyan Barathikannan, Akanksha Tyagi, Simon-Okomo Aloo, Xiuqin Chen, Pianpian Yan, Lingyue Shan, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Encapsulating potential and functional properties of exopolysaccharide from Limosilactobacillus reuteri KCTC 14626BP isolated from human breast milk
Journal of Cereal Science 118
2024
B1
In Plant Microbiome Engineering, pp. 151-160. New York, NY: Springer US, 2024. 2. Aloo, Simon Okomo, Denish Obiero Aloo, Selvakumar Vijayalakshmi, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Identification of Toxic Blooms of Cyanobacteria in Marine Water Habitat
Aloo, Simon Okomo, Denish Obiero Aloo, Selvakumar Vijayalakshmi, and Deog-Hwan Oh. "Nucleic Acid-Based Rapid Detection of Plant-Associated Cyanobacteria
In Protocols for Cyanobacteria Sampling and Detection of Cyanotoxin, pp. 17-25. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore
2023

// 04 — Recognition

Academic Awards
Excellence recognized across four countries

01
2021 · Korea
Outstanding Academic Achievement — Korean Ministry of Education (NIIED)
1ST-Place master's candidate among all Korean Government Scholars (KGSP). Award presented personally by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea — the highest national recognition for international scholars in the program.
02
2022 · Korea
Outstanding Academic Achievement — KNU
1ST-Place Master's candidate at Kangwon National University, 2022.
03
2018 · Kenya
Excellence Award — APACA
Sole outstanding participant award, 2018 Korean Government Training Program for Young African Agricultural Experts.
04
2020
Best Speaker's Award
Global Youth Leader Exchange Program — TED-style contest on 'COVID-19 and Life Changes.'
05
2024 · Korea
Outstanding Academic Achievement — KNU
1ST-Place doctoral candidate at Kangwon National University, 2025.

// 05 — Funding & Scholarships

Scholarships
Fully funded across three countries

2026 – Present
Baker Bright Spark Top-Up Scholarship Award
Competitive research top-up scholarship awarded by the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute to support innovative cardiometabolic disease research.
Australia · Research Excellence
2025 – Present
Monash Graduate Scholarship (MGS)
Competitive postgraduate research scholarship at Monash University supporting full PhD candidature through tuition and stipend support.
Australia · Full Scholarship
2025
Australian Government Research Training Program (AGRTP) Scholarship
Prestigious Australian Government Research Training Program scholarship awarded through the University of Wollongong for research excellence.
Australia · Government
2022 – 2024
Bring Excellent Students to Kangwon National University (BEST-KNU) Scholarship
Doctoral research scholarship awarded to exceptional PhD scholars at Kangwon National University based on academic merit and research productivity.
Korea · Doctoral
2022 – 2024
Brain Korea 21 (BK21) Scholarship
National graduate research scholarship under the Brain Korea 21 initiative supporting advanced research training and academic excellence.
Korea · National Program
2019 – 2022
Korean Government Graduate Scholarship (KGSP)
Prestigious Korean Government graduate scholarship covering tuition, living allowance, language training, and research support for MSc studies.
Korea · Full Scholarship
2018
Global Korea Scholarship for Undergraduate Students
Awarded through the Asia-Pacific Africa Co-operation Academy (APACA) training program for outstanding African undergraduate students.
Korea · Competitive

// 06 — Scientific Meetings

Conferences
Presenting research across the globe

2024
Stable Isotope Lipid Tracer Approaches in Human Cell Models of Cardiometabolic Disease
Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute Annual Research Symposium
Melbourne, Australia
Oral
2023
Pediococcus acidilactici–fermented hempseed alleviates obesity and improves Alzheimer’s disease-like symptoms via oxido-inflammatory pathways
Korean Food Science and Nutrition (KFN) Society 2024 International Annual Meeting.
Jeju, South Korea
Oral
2024
Protective effect of fermented hempseed extracts against obesity and obesity-induced oxidative stress and neurodegenerative disorders
16th International Scientific Conference on Probiotics, Prebiotics, Gut Microbiota and Health.
Bratislava, Slovakia
Poster
2022
Combination of elicited germination and fermentation improves metabolite profile and anti-obesity properties of alfalfa seed.
Korean Society of Food Science and Technology (KoSFoST) International Symposium and Annual Meeting
Busan, Republic of Korea
Oral
2023
Polyphenol-Rich Sprouts as Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Functional Foods
International Symposium on Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds
Online (Virtual)
Poster
2020
COVID-19 and Life Changes: A Scientist's Perspective
Global Youth Leader Exchange Program — TED-Style Forum
Online (Virtual)
Keynote

// 07 — Career

Professional
Experience & Leadership

Mar 2026 – Present
Melbourne, AU
STM Student Mentor
Monash University — Science, Technology & Medicine
  • Peer mentorship to honours students on research and career navigation
  • Fostering inclusive environments and connecting mentees to university resources
2025 – Present
Kenya
Chairperson & Founder
ACMHR-K · acmhr-k.org
  • National NGO leadership focused on cardiometabolic disease prevention
  • Driving interdisciplinary research, public health training, and policy advocacy
2022 – 2024
Republic of Korea
Food Technologist
Future Biotech Ltd
  • Industry collaborative research on probiotic and fermented food development
  • Pilot-scale fermentation and process standardization
  • Probiotic formulation development for metabolic health applications
2017
Kenya
Food Science Intern
Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
  • Food quality analysis and product standardization activities
  • Laboratory testing for physicochemical properties of food products
2016
Kenya
Clinical Nutrition Intern
Homa-Bay Referral Hospital
  • Patient nutritional assessments and individualized diet planning
  • Management support for diabetes, hypertension, and malnutrition cases

// 08 — Connect

Find Simon
Across the scientific & social web

Reach out for research collaborations, mentorship enquiries, or scholarship guidance. Simon is active across these platforms.