Our lab bridges clinical reality and experimental innovation to study gut microbiome function in health and disease. We focus on the small intestine (ileum) and colon, using access to ileostomy samples, Parkinson’s disease cohorts, and novel hydrogel/motility models. This approach allows us to reveal microbial processes that are difficult to capture with standard models, connecting patient biology with mechanistic insight. 

What We Do

We are an interdisciplinary research team dedicated to exploring the complexities of microbial interactions and their significant impact on the well-being of the holomicrobiome, all while upholding scientific integrity and fairness. We combine experimentation, analytical chemistry, microbiology, and bioinformatics to study microbial adaptation and responses to diverse stimuli. Our research spans both the small intestine (ileum) and colon, with access to ileostomy samples, Parkinson’s disease cohorts, and novel hydrogel/motility models. We investigate disease models, including Parkinson’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease, comparing bacterial responses with healthy counterparts to understand gut health and adaptation. Additionally, we design synthetic microbial communities and leverage them to engineer more effective strategies for microbiome reprogramming.