Research

Our research focuses on understanding the role of the gut microbiome in neurodevelopmental disorders. We explore how microbial communities interact with the brain through the gut-brain axis, and how dietary interventions can modulate these interactions to improve outcomes in conditions like ASD and ADHD.


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Research Overview

Understand how the microbiome communicates with the brain through metabolic and immunological interactions.


Areas of Focus

Gut Microbiome

Dissecting microbiome composition and function in neurodevelopmental conditions

Dietary Interventions

Exploring how ketogenic diets and other nutritional approaches influence gut microbial composition and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis

Understanding the complex interactions between microbial communities, intestinal function, and brain development in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Microbiome-Brain Metabolic interactions

Investigating the how gut microbiome interacts with brain through metabolic mechanisms

What We Study?

Ketogenic Diet and Gut Physiology

The ketogenic diet exerts multifaceted effects on gut physiology, influencing cellular energetics, nutrient absorption, gut motility, intestinal stem cells, immune function, gut barrier integrity, the microbiome-gut-brain axis, gut microbiome composition, hormone secretion, and intestinal circadian rhythms.

Ketogenic Diet Overview
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Microbiome Research

Gram-staining of an isolated Lactobacillus species

Gut organoid

Host-Microbiome Interaction Research

Immunofluorescent imaging of Active-β-catenin stained in a gut-derived organoid following exposure to a microbe

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Microbiome & Neurodevelopmental Behavior Research

Heatmap visualization of total distance traveled in the open-field test (5 min) by a mouse following microbiome intervention