Soil Yourself September! Decoding the Gut-Brain Connection with Big Data

Our bodies are home to trillions of microbes that help shape our health in ways we’re only beginning to understand. These microbes influence how we feel, how our immune systems work, and even how our brains function. Scientific breakthroughs over the past 20 years now allow us to measure tens of thousands of genes, proteins, and other molecules from a single blood sample. This has opened the door to big data approaches that let us explore the complex relationships between the gut, brain, and immune system. For the first time, scientists can study these vast datasets to understand how different systems in the body communicate and influence each other. This talk will explore how cutting-edge tools like DNA sequencing and artificial intelligence are helping us decode how we interact with microorganisms. We'll look at how this new knowledge could transform healthcare by offering more personalized treatments, improving mental health, and helping us understand the root causes of complex diseases.

Join Feargal for a fascinating talk!

Dr Feargal J. Ryan leads the Computational Multi-Omics Group at Flinders University, where he explores how different types of biological data can be combined to better understand human health and disease. His research focuses on complex and poorly understood conditions, with a particular interest in how the gut microbiome and immune system interact with the brain and other organs. Dr Ryan has studied microbiomes from premature neonates to the elderly, leading major studies published in the world’s top scientific journals. His work has helped uncover how gut bacteria shape our immune system, influence brain function, and even affect how well vaccines work. A strong advocate for training and mentoring, Dr Ryan was elected Vice-President of the Australian Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Society (>1,000 members) in 2024. He is passionate about building capacity in bioinformatics and supporting the next generation of researchers.