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Unravelling interactions between fermentable carbohydrates and the gut microbiota in patients with IBS

Objective

"""What can I eat?” This is the question that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) ask their general practitioner. Diet is the first line of treatment for IBS and is based on restricting foods containing a group of sugars (Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides and polyol or FODMAPs), which are not fully absorbed by the host and fermented by the gut microbiota. Although effective, this treatment is not sustainable in the long term, as the diet requires limiting beneficial foods such as vegetables and fruits. To date, due to a lack of specific trials, our understanding of which and how specific FODMAPs contribute to IBS symptoms has yet to be uncovered.
Based on (1) preliminary results showing a patient-specific response to purified FODMAPs in IBS patients, (2) the central role of the gut microbiota in FODMAP digestion and (3) the interindividual variation of the gut microbiota between individuals and IBS patients, I hypothesise that specific FODMAPs cause symptoms in IBS patients through individualised microbiome activity. By combining my bioinformatics skills and microbiome background with wet-lab microbiology expertise of the host group, I aim to identify bacterial species and metabolites causing the development of symptoms. Firstly, I will analyse samples and clinical data from a trial conducted in the host lab, in which patients were exposed to six purified FODMAPs, to identify microbiome changes in those experiencing symptoms. Next, I will test the interaction between FODMAPs and the identified microbes with high-throughput in-vitro fermentation, monitoring dynamic shifts in the gut microbial ecosystem and metabolic activity upon FODMAP exposure. Finally, I will determine if baseline microbiome or metabolite profiles can predict an individual's tolerance to specific FODMAPs.
The outcomes of my research project will pave the way for innovative, effective, non-invasive, and personalised therapeutic approaches for a disorder affecting 10% of Europeans."

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

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Coordinator

VIB VZW
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 191 760,00
Address
SUZANNE TASSIERSTRAAT 1
9052 ZWIJNAARDE - GENT
Belgium

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Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen Arr. Gent
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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