Graduate Student
Indiana University Bloomington
Verónica Sambra, RD, MS, is a PhD candidate in Nutrition at Indiana University Bloomington and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Chile. Her research focuses on developing evidence-based strategies to reduce added sugar consumption and improve metabolic health, with a particular emphasis on sweet taste preferences, beverage choice, and the role of non-nutritive sweeteners across the lifespan. Her current work investigates behavioral, metabolic, hormonal, and neural mechanisms underlying sweet taste preference, with a special focus on adolescents and interventions aimed at promoting healthier beverage choices. At ASN NUTRITION 2026, she is presenting findings from a randomized crossover trial examining the acute glucose, hormonal, and appetite responses to breakfasts following non-nutritive sweetener pre-loads in adults with type 2 diabetes. Her long-term goal is to translate mechanistic research into practical nutrition interventions that support healthier dietary behaviors and reduce the burden of obesity and diabetes.