Explore the forefront of neuroscience with the LCSB Neuroscience Lecture Series, featuring scientific presentations from internationally renowned experts in various disciplines of neuroscience.
Meet the speaker! A networking aperitif with light snacks and refreshments will follow the presentation. Further one-on-one meeting opportunities with the speaker can be arranged by emailing Caroline Belot or Cathia Rausch.
A Gut Feeling about the Brain:
Unravelling the Diet-Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis
The microbiota-gut-brain axis is emerging as a research area of increasing interest for those investigating the biological and physiological basis of neurodevelopmental, age-related and neuropsychiatric disorders. The routes of communication between the gut and brain include the vagus nerve, the immune system, via the enteric nervous system or via microbial metabolites such as short chain fatty acids.
Studies in animal models have been key in delineating that neurodevelopment and the programming of an appropriate stress response is dependent on the microbiota. Developmentally, a variety of factors can impact the microbiota in early life, including mode of birth delivery, antibiotic exposure, mode of nutritional provision, infection, stress as well as host genetics. Finally, studies examining the translation of these effects from animals to humans are currently ongoing. Further studies will focus on understanding the mechanisms underlying such brain effects and developing nutritional and microbial-based psychobiotic intervention strategies and how these interact with various systems in the body across the lifespan.
About the speaker
John F. Cryan is Professor & Chair of Dept. of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University College Cork and was appointed Vice President for Research & Innovation in 2021. He is also a PI in APC Microbiome Ireland. Prof. Cryan has published over 700 peer-reviewed articles and received numerous awards, including from the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), the European Behavioural Pharmacology Society (EBPS), the British Association of Pharmacology, the Physiological Society, the American Gastroenterology Association and Neuroscience Ireland and FASEB. He was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Antwerp in 2018 and has been on the Highly Cited Researcher list in 2014 and from 2017 to the present. He was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy in 2017.
The Neuroscience Lecture Series is supported by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) RESCOM Program (RESCOM24/18810230/Neurosciences_LS).
