ISB News

Personalized Nutrition and Your Gut Microbiome

Researchers have been studying the gut microbiome for about 15 years, investigating what species live in specific places for specific times. “We’ve mapped out the space of ‘who is where’,” said microbiome researcher and ISB Assistant Professor Dr. Sean Gibbons.

What is less known is the functionality of the complex ecologies that make up our microbiome. For example, how do we predict behavior? How do we predict output and function from this ecological information that we are observing. 

In ISB’s first-ever Research Roundtable event, Gibbons delivered a presentation titled “Gut-Check: Personalized Nutrition and Your Microbiome.” His talk covered a lot of ground, including a basic understanding of the microbiome (“all the microorganisms that call our bodies home,” Gibbons said. “They’re not pathogens. They’re not bad guys, but commensal organisms – organisms that live in harmony with our bodies”). He also discussed recently published research showing how the health of our microbiomes can predict longevity, and how we can build and maintain a healthy gut microbiome. 

You can watch his presentation in full by hitting play on the video above, or by going here

Research Roundtables

Research Roundtable

ISB is hosting a series of Research Roundtable conversations throughout 2021 that will feature our leading scientists discussing their latest research. 

These events are designed for the novice scientist and the expert alike, and are open to anyone interested in the topics. Featured scientists will also answer your questions.

Genomics pioneer and ISB Co-founder Dr. Lee Hood will present on April 20 (sign up here), and Alzheimer’s disease researcher and ISB Senior Research Scientist Dr. Jared Roach will present May 18 (sign up here).

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