Southampton to lead new UK network into links between gut and brain health
- Clinical Research communications team
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
A groundbreaking UK research network has been launched to uncover how gut health influences the brain, immune system and mental well-being.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has awarded £4.5 million to the UK Gut-Immunology-Brain Axis Network+.
The network could potentially lead to new treatments for conditions like anxiety, depression and dementia.
It is led by Professor Jonathan Swann from the University of Southampton.
Professor Swann is a theme lead for the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre.
First of its kind in the UK
A growing body of research suggests the gut, brain and immune system constantly communicate. This is known as the gut-immune-brain axis.
The gut-immune-brain axis is known to play a critical role in mood, cognitive function, and chronic illness. However, researchers do not yet fully understand how.
The network will bring together leading experts to find the missing biological links. It will lay the foundation for new evidence-based treatments and practical lifestyle recommendations.
It will be the first in the UK to unite experts from across research disciplines to investigate how lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, and stress influence the gut-immune-brain axis.
The network includes researchers from the universities of Southampton and Cambridge, King’s College London and the Quadram Institute. It will run for four years.
Targeting the gut for better brain health
Mental health disorders affect one in four people in the UK, and dementia cases are rising. Targeting gut health could open up a whole new way to treat these conditions.
A key aspect the network will focus on is the bacteria and other microorganisms naturally found in our gut, known as our gut ‘microbiota’.
Recent studies suggest that changes to diet, such as increasing fibre intake or following a Mediterranean diet, can influence the gut microbiota. This has been shown to improve people’s mood and cognitive performance.
The network will build on these findings to study the underlying biological mechanisms. This will help ensure future treatments and lifestyle recommendations are based on robust evidence.
Tackling major health challenges
The network will focus on tackling major health challenges, through:
Mental health solutions: Investigating whether probiotics, diet, and gut-targeted therapies could be effective treatments for anxiety and depression.
Dementia and brain ageing: Understanding how gut health influences neurodegeneration and whether simple lifestyle changes can help prevent Alzheimer’s.
Chronic health conditions: Exploring the gut’s role in immune function, inflammation, and diseases like diabetes and obesity.
AI and big data: Using advanced technology to analyse gut-brain interactions and accelerate discoveries.
To drive progress in these areas, it will connect scientists, doctors, and industry partners to share knowledge and resources. This will help to speed up discoveries.
Investigating our ‘second brain’
Researchers in the network aim to develop better research models, to make research findings more relevant to people.
They plan to make testing easier, by finding practical and cost-effective ways to study the gut-brain connection. They also will use artificial intelligence (AI) to uncover key patterns in large datasets and identify potential treatments more efficiently.
Professor Swann said: "The gut is often referred to as our second brain. There's growing evidence to suggest the health of our gut, and the microbes that inhabit it, can influence our mood and cognitive abilities.
"The gut and brain are intimately connected. We already know that intestinal distress can lead to serious illnesses like anxiety, stress or depression.
"This new network will bring together expertise from across the UK to help us dive deeper into these diverse connections. It will help us investigate untapped areas of research. These include the link between poor gut health and dementia in older age, and the microbial role in infant brain development.”
Please click here for more information about the GIBA network and ways to take part.