Dr Vanessa Kimbell

Dr Vanessa Kimbell is a baker, nutrigeneticist, and the first to unite sourdough fermentation, gut–microbiome science, and personalised nutrition into a clinical model of Baking as Lifestyle Medicine. She leads The Sourdough School, where for over twenty years she has specialised in how bread influences metabolic, digestive, and mental health.
She pioneered the concept of biohacking bread — using long fermentation and botanical diversity to activate the grain’s own enzymic pathways, enhance nutrient availability, modulate key metabolites, and support microbial resilience. Her work integrates genetics, gut ecology, and fermentation science to create personalised bread formulas and microbiome-focused dietary approaches, including her symbiotic eating methodology.
Her research and teaching place her at the forefront of personalised, microbiome-responsive bread in modern preventative healthcare.
https://thesourdoughschool.com