Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: Hype or Revolution?

Prof. Dr. Lukas Van Oudenhove, M.D., Ph.D. – a renowned Gut-Brain researcher and psychiatrist from the historical university of KU Leuven, Belgium – was invited to share his insights on a unique and growing field of study, the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The microbiota-gut-brain axis involves the intricate interaction of trillions of microorganisms living in our gut, along with the metabolites they produce, and the neural, endocrinal, and immune pathways they affect. Altogether, they orchestrate various brain functions and vice versa. In the talk, Prof. Dr. Van Oudenhove gave an overview of the contribution of microbiota-gut-brain axis research in the context of affective neuroscience. He paid particular attention to the lack of human translation of spectacular rodent findings and the pitfalls associated with it. 

The audience, which came from a range of university students, lecturers, and the public, highly appreciated the talk and the many intriguing questions asked during the event. Based on audience evaluation, this Power Talk effectively provided relevant and interesting insights on the current body of evidence regarding the microbiota-gut-brain axis.