Nateureka Labs Appoints Microbiome Researcher Yanjiao Zhou, MD, PhD, to Scientific Advisory Board
- 12 hours ago
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Farmington, Conn. — July 10, 2026 — Nateureka Labs, Inc., a company discovering and developing novel, naturally derived ingredients for next-generation oral health products, today announced the appointment of Yanjiao Zhou, MD, PhD, to its Scientific Advisory Board.
Dr. Zhou is an Associate Professor of Medicine at UConn Health and a computational biologist with deep expertise in microbiome science, bioinformatics, host-microbiome interactions, and microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutics. She was one of the lead analysts in the first and second phases of the Human Microbiome Project and has contributed to numerous microbiome-related research programs across health and disease.
At Nateureka, Dr. Zhou will advise on the scientific development of CajuDent™, the company’s proprietary cashew-apple-derived ingredient being developed to support a healthy oral microbiome. Her guidance will help inform Nateureka’s microbiome research strategy, study design, analytical approach, and broader scientific development plans.
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Zhou to our Scientific Advisory Board,” said Zach Rome, Founder and CEO of Nateureka Labs. “Her experience at the forefront of microbiome science will be incredibly valuable as we continue to build the scientific foundation for CajuDent. We believe the oral microbiome represents one of the most important frontiers in oral care, and Dr. Zhou’s expertise will help us approach this opportunity with rigor, credibility, and scientific discipline.”
“Our growing understanding of the oral microbiome is transforming oral care,” said Dr. Zhou. “Harnessing natural products to help maintain a healthy oral microbiome may offer a promising new approach to supporting long-term oral health. I look forward to working with the Nateureka team to help advance the scientific development of CajuDent and microbiome-friendly oral health solutions.”
CajuDent is being developed as the key ingredient in Cazu™, Nateureka’s consumer oral health brand that will be launching early next year. The company is initially focused on convenient daily formats, including lozenges and lollipops, designed to fit naturally into consumers’ routines between brushing.
About Nateureka Labs
Nateureka Labs discovers and develops novel, naturally derived, science-backed ingredients for consumer health products. The company’s lead program, CajuDent™, is a proprietary ingredient derived from the cashew apple and developed to support a healthy oral environment. Nateureka’s mission is to help people support their oral health by making science-backed, naturally derived ingredients that are enjoyable to use, easy to incorporate into daily routines, and accessible to all.
Contact
Dr. Zhou is serving as an advisor to Nateureka Labs in her individual capacity. Institutional affiliation is provided for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement by UConn Health.