This research explores how early-life stress alters the gut microbiome and its communication with the brain, challenging the traditional "leaky gut" theory of anxiety. Using a comprehensive, lifespan-wide approach, it identifies a potential new mechanism that could enable more personalized treatments for patients who do not respond to current anxiety therapies.

This research examines how social relationships influence the gut microbiome using Rwenzori Angolan colobus monkeys as a model. By combining social network analysis with microbial DNA sequencing, the study explores how beneficial bacteria spread through social groups and caregiving relationships, offering insights into the evolutionary connections between sociality and health.

This thesis investigates how gut microbes influence brain health through short-chain fatty acids produced from dietary fibre. Measuring these compounds in stool samples, the research finds lower levels in people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The next phase tests whether supplementing short-chain fatty acids can prevent or treat Alzheimer’s in mouse models.

This research investigates how the infant gut microbiota influences childhood asthma risk. By studying microbes from infant diapers, the project identifies protective and harmful bacteria, explores the effects of genetics and environmental exposures, and highlights opportunities for early intervention and probiotic-based prevention. Understanding gut–immune interactions may transform childhood asthma prevention.