Today we’re talking bugs, bowels, and breakthroughs with A/Prof Gianluca Ianiro and Dr. Ben Mullish, two microbiome maestros who make poo science strangely fascinating.

A/Prof Gianluca Ianiro is an Associate Professor of Gastroenterology at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome and a Consultant at the Gastroenterology Unit of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS. His clinical and research interests center on the gut microbiota, with a particular emphasis on fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and its applications in gastrointestinal disorders such as Clostridioides difficile infection and irritable bowel syndrome. Recognized as a leading expert in his field, Professor Ianiro has contributed extensively to international consensus guidelines and has been acknowledged for his work with the United European Gastroenterology Rising Star award. He also leads the Microbiome Clinic at Gemelli, translating cutting-edge microbiome research into clinical practice. 

Dr. Benjamin Mullish is a Senior Clinical Research Fellow in the Division of Digestive Diseases at Imperial College London and an Honorary Consultant in Hepatology and Gastroenterology at St Mary’s Hospital, part of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. He is also an IPPRF Research Fellow within the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction at Imperial College. His research focuses on the gut microbiome and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), particularly in the context of liver disease and gastrointestinal infections.This conversation delves into the complexities of the microbiome, particularly the gut microbiome, and its significant role in health and disease.

We discuss the dynamic nature of the microbiome, the challenges in microbiome research, and the potential for microbiome-based therapeutics. They also explore the roles of prebiotics and probiotics, the future of microbiome diagnostics, and the potential future concept for specialised microbiome clinicians to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice.

As always comments, questions and feedback please send to: X: @2guystalkingit

Email: [email protected]

Chapters

00:20 J + J Introduction

05:11 Introduction to the Microbiome  

07:16 Understanding the Gut Microbiome  

10:04 The Dynamic Nature of the Microbiome  

13:21 Factors Influencing the Gut Microbiome  

16:15 Clinical Relevance of Stool Microbiome  

19:24 Microbiome and Disease: Cancer and Liver Health  

22:12 Microbiome in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Metabolism  

25:20 Future Directions in Microbiome Research  

35:20 The Uncertainty of Microbial Therapeutics  

37:10 The Future of Microbiome Research  

42:41 Understanding Prebiotics and Probiotics  

56:49 The Need for Microbiome Clinician specialists