Julia Rode

Om Julia Rode

Julia Rode has a background in nutritional science (BSc) and molecular biotechnology (MSc) from the Technical University of Munich in Germany. She joined the NGBI research centre at Örebro University as a PhD student in autumn 2016. Throughout her studies she focused on the role of the gut microbiota in health and disease. This builds the basis for her PhD studies which aim to investigate differences in (patho-)physiological processes between irritable bowel syndrome patients and healthy subjects with special focus on the interaction between the gut and the brain. Possible treatment options will be investigated by challenging the gut-brain axis from both sides using functional brain imaging (fMRI).

Statistically 10-15% suffer permanently from mild to severe gut problems although no clinical relevant alterations can be found. This disease is called irritable bowel syndrome. Many patients suffer also from psychological problems such as depression or anxiety which might be related to their gut problems. Overall, they have a decreased quality of life. The causes and the mechanisms of this disease are not well understood. But there is a consensus among experts that the gut microbiota might play a relevant role. Until now no effective treatment is available. A novel promising treatment might be faecal microbiota transplantation. It consists in the infusion of stool from a healthy donor into the gut of a patient with the aim to restore disturbed a gut microbiota. This is a highly effective treatment for a life-threatening bacterial gut infection (Clostridium difficile) and seems to be a promising treatment option for several gut-related diseases. The treatment is proven to be durable and safe.

A better understanding of the disease might lead to the establishment of diagnostic tools with a set of biomarkers including brain imaging. Furthermore, a potential and maybe even individualized treatment could be found.