Laurel Gabard-Durnam

Sponsor: Wellcome

“Linking infant gut microbial resilience and redundancy with neurodevelopment” –

The microbiome plays a critical role in brain development, particularly during sensitive windows before and after birth. Early-life factors such as maternal diet, stress, delivery mode, and infant nutrition can disrupt both gut microbial communities and brain development, potentially contributing to conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). By studying how gut microbes produce key signaling molecules like GABA and glutamate, this research will uncover new connections between environmental exposures, microbial communities, and neurodevelopmental outcomes, opening doors to potential interventions that could support healthy brain development from the start.