Research
Crohn Disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory disorders affecting young individuals and requiring life-long therapy. Non-human models do not reflect those factors and dynamics, and therefore we investigate disease pathogenesis in the actual affected gut samples. We apply big data OMICs and machine learning to build models for defining personalized pathways affecting disease in different individuals, and for finding specific biomarkers for disease outcome.
We then elaborate in the lab on patient-specific mechanistic pathways associated with pathogenesis and outcome. This is done using gut derived “minigut” organoid culture and gut bacteria to recapitulate patient-specific interaction for testing response to existing and future therapies.
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The gut microbiome is shaped predominantly by environmental factors. Its composition is established within the first 3 years of life, and during this period, it displays the highest intra- and inter-individual variability. This maturation during childhood likely account for the relatively stable adult personal microbial signature, which has also been linked with various disease conditions. Microbial dynamics during childhood is a global cross-cultural phenomenon. Yet, we still lack comprehensive understanding as to what determines this person-specific microbial outcome, if and how it is linked or predicts disease development, and how we can potentially modify the process.
It is still unclear how different factors like supplements, vitamins, and attendance in day care that are introduced during childhood affect the microbial maturation and are linked with prevalent disease outcome.
