Microbe2Mind Initiative
MICROBIOME. BRAIN. HEALTH.
Microbe2Mind Initiative
Decoding the Mechanisms of Brain–Body Communication
Microbe2Mind is a multidisciplinary research initiative investigating how the gut microbiome communicates with the brain and body, and how this communication is altered by chronic environmental challenges including stress, inflammation and circadian disruption.
Led by Prof. John F. Cryan at APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork.
Explore Our Research → About the Initiative →
| Made possible through a philanthropic donation from the Saks Kavanaugh Foundation. |
ABOUT MICROBE2MIND
A Five-year Interdisciplinary Initiative at the Intersection of Microbes and the Mind
Microbe2Mind brings together complementary expertise to understand microbiome–brain communication as an integrated biological system.
OUR RESEARCH STRATEGY
A Four-Stage Path from Discovery to Intervention
The programme moves systematically from identifying microbiome-dependent phenotypes to understanding their mechanisms and determining whether they can be reversed.
| 1. Transmission Determine whether chronic environmental challenges generate microbiome states capable of transferring behavioural and physiological phenotypes. |
2. Encoding Define the microbial, immune, metabolic, transcriptional and neural signatures associated with altered brain–body states. |
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| 3. Mechanism Identify the immune, vagal, endocannabinoid, circadian and neuroendocrine pathways that translate microbial signals. |
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4. Rescue Test whether microbiome-driven dysfunction can be reversed through targeted microbial and host interventions. |
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LEADERSHIP
Scientific and Programme Leadership
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Programme Lead Prof. John F. CryanPrincipal Investigator Prof. John F. Cryan leads the Microbe2Mind Initiative and the Microbiota–Gut–Brain research programme at APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork. |
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Programme Management Dr. Lamya'a DawudScientific Programme Manager Responsible for programme implementation, recruitment, regulatory approvals, procurement, governance and integration of the experimental workstreams. |
