After years of working in food science, nutrition and sustainability, Dr Alexis Chung (School of Molecular and Life Sciences) wanted to find a way to bring science beyond the lab and into everyday life.

Together with her co-founder and Curtin PhD graduate Dr Joel Wynhorst, Alexis launched PuriFibre, a Perth-made functional food designed to help people increase their daily fibre intake in a simple and practical way.

Made locally in Perth and hand-bottled by the founders, the venture reflects a shared passion for translating years of research into something people can genuinely use in their day-to-day.

The idea grew from a common challenge: while many people understand the importance of fibre, maintaining healthy habits can be difficult when balancing busy schedules, work and study. Low fibre intake can be linked with issues such as digestive problems, bloating, low energy, brain fog, body aches, weight management challenges, inflammation and a general feeling of not being well. Fibre is important for gut health and research shows how closely the gut relates to other parts of health and wellbeing.

Drawing on their research and training, Alexis and Joel developed PuriFibre to make healthy choices feel more accessible and achievable. It is compact, easy to drink and designed to taste good, fitting into a consumer’s daily routine without overthinking it.

Alongside the product, Alexis has also launched a weekly blog, Evidence-Informed Gut Health, which shares science-backed information about fibre and wellbeing in a clear and approachable way.

Sustainability sits at the heart of the venture, with a focus on local production, reusing glass bottles and reducing waste wherever possible. For Alexis and Joel, the journey reflects the powerful role research and education can play in creating practical, community-focused solutions.

Congratulations to Alexis and Joel on this exciting venture and the meaningful impact to the community that they are creating through research, innovation and sustainability. Alexis has extended her gratitude to the people at Curtin who have supported and shaped this journey.