In this episode, we embark on a fascinating journey to explore one of the most groundbreaking areas of science - the gut-brain axis! Leading the way is none other than world-renowned neuroscientist Professor John Cryan of University College Cork, whose pioneering work has helped uncovered the powerful link between the gut microbiome and mental health and behaviour. Co-hosted by one of Europe's leading neurosurgeons, Peter Vajkoczy, this is one episode you won't want to miss. So, sit back and buckle up as we navigate the neural pathways that connect our gut to our brain, and discover how this connection plays a critical role in a wide range of conditions, from mental disorders to degenerative diseases. We'll delve into Professor Cryan's cutting-edge research, exploring the diseases his team in Cork are targeting and the innovative delivery systems they're developing to make genetic changes in the brain. You'll also hear about the forces that shape our microbiota throughout our lives, from the importance of vaginal birth and breast milk to the relationship between stress, dementia and depression, and the impact of diet on social behaviour, cognitive decline and aging, and mental health. We'll also explore the exciting new field of psychobiotics, which Cryan covers in his bestselling book, “The Psychobiotic Revolution: Mood, Food and the New Science of the Gut-Brain Connection”. Prepare to be amazed by the potential future treatments for neurological and mental health conditions through the lens of microbiota and neuroscience. Join us for an unforgettable episode as microbes and neurons bring us closer to understanding a shared universe of the gut and the brain!

*Professor John F. Cryan is Vice-President for Research and Innovation at University College Cork (UCC), Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, and Principal Investigator at the APC Microbiome Ireland Institute. His pioneering research concentrates on the gut-brain axis and the impact of gut microbes on stress, psychiatric and immune disorders, as well as their influence on mental health. He is a leading figure in this field, with numerous influential publications and significant contributions to scientific research and public understanding of the microbiome. He has published over 600 peer-reviewed articles and has served as co-editor for several books. Additionally, he currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Neuropharmacology and Neurobiology of Stress, and is a member of the editorial boards of 15 other scientific journals.

**This episode is cohosted by Prof. Peter Vajcokzy. He has been Head of Neurosurgery at Charité-Universitätsmedizin in Berlin since 2007. He leads 5,000 brain surgeries a year, 800 of which he performs. He is a full professor at Charité and an associate professor at Heidelberg. He treats cerebrovascular disorders, brain tumours, skull base tumours and performs minimally invasive spine and peripheral surgery. He also performs functional neurosurgery and pain management procedures. His research focuses on brain cancer and the mechanisms of brain tumours. He also studies the monitoring of neocortically ill patients after vessel occlusion.

https://publish.ucc.ie/researchprofiles/C003/jcryan Social Media: John F. Cryan (@jfcryan) · X https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3SiQStcAAAAJ&hl=en https://www.amazon.com/Books-John-F-Cryan/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJohn+F.+Cryan

TEDMED Food for thought: How gut microbes change your mind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMVxbnfSP-Q

Feed Your Microbes - Nurture Your Mind | John Cryan | TEDxHa'pennyBridge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKxomLM7SVc

NETFLIX Documentary: “Hack your Health” featuring Prof. John Cryan https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/hack-your-health-secrets-of-your-gut-release-date-trailer-news

Grandmaternal stress and during pregnancy and DNA Germany/ Brazil and Sweden) (Paper published in 2017 Serpeloni F, Radtke K, de Assis SG, Henning F, Nätt D, Elbert T. Grandmaternal stress during pregnancy and DNA methylation of the third generation: an epigenome-wide association study. Transl Psychiatry. 2017 Aug 15;7(8):e1202. doi: 10.1038/tp.2017.153. PMID: 28809857; PMCID: PMC5611722. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28809857/