Upcoming talk: Let’s learn about the four ways the gut and brain communicate, and how this knowledge can help optimize your physical and mental health. May 30th 2024. YouTube link will be provided at a later date!

September 26:

I give students participation marks in my class. In order to accommodate students that are anxious/shy about asking questions in class, I allow them to write a question down instead, which I then answer at the beginning of next week's lecture.

Now some ask questions in class, but they ALL ask questions on paper. It's derailed my lectures a bit, but the result is awesome! Their questions are so great, it provides a nice review of the previous learning material, and gives me time to really answer their questions based on most recent evidence. It generates some really insightful conversations (but also takes a lot of time to address these all!)

For example, the questions for today's lecture:

• Is vaginal birth healthier for the baby?​

• How many neurotransmitters are produced in the gut compared to the rest of the body?

• How does candida affect the gut?​

• Surgery prevelance in CD vs UC?​

• NSAIDS​-why do some doctors advise against?

• Are medical doctors gods?​ (question reformatted by me, after a student explained a terrible patient-doctor interaction they experienced).

• Streptococci in the gut vs mouth?​ Why is one pathogenic, and the other not?

• Are there organisms in the gut besides bacteria? Archaea?​

• Missing microbes hypothesis-due to food processing?​

• Pre vs probiotics for gut health? What's the best way to supplement?

• Is stuff like Keffir or Kombucha actually good for your gut? Are probiotic supplements indiscriminately beneficial?​

• If memory responses drive fast and effective immune reactions, how can people get desensitized to certain allergens?​

• Can breastmilk transfer immunity/allergy resistance to infant?​

• What are some environmental triggers for IBD?

• Are there certain genes that influence how the gut tolerates certain microbes? Is it heritable> Does your parents microbial tolerance influence yours?​

• How are bacteria introduced into our gut? ​

• IBD: what diseases are included? How do these diseases, and celiac disease, progress over time?​

• Is the gut microbiome always changing, or do the first few years of life set us up for how our microbiome is for the rest of our lives?​

• Do antibiotics kill the microbiome/ What impacts do antibiotics have, and are they lasting??

• Why do people save their placenta? Are there any real benefits?

• How much of you gut microbiome is your genome responsible for? Could mRNA vaccines be used to treat food allergies?

"I will never stop being grateful for this independent study and especially to my supervisor Chelsea Matisz."​

What’s New

Such a great time at the Neuroimmunphysiology of the gastrointestinal tract conference in Banff. Wonderful to see old friends, and new research!
Did you know the gut microbiota can drive visceral (gut) pain?

Invited workshop

In October I’ll be part of a workshop for the Palliser Health Region’s Primary Care Network. Researchers, psychologists, and dieticians will be presenting and synthesizing our knowledge on the gut-brain axis for an audience of physicians, nurses, social workers, and other professionals.

I would love to turn this into something to share with high school students and the wider community!

One of the greatest joys of working in academia is getting to see the students I help mentor shine! Congratulations to Karina Almeida, and best of luck as you pursue your MSc in Calgary!