Discover how the gut can influence the mind.
On Monday 28 July, ABC TV’s Australian Story featured a powerful episode exploring Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) and its potential to support mental health. The episode features none other than Professor Emad El-Omar, Director of the Microbiome Research Centre (MRC) at St George Hospital and valued Board Director of SSMRF. Prof El-Omar is one of Australia’s leading experts on the gut microbiome and its role in disease prevention.
Joining Professor El-Omar are:
- Professor Gordon Parker AO, world-renowned psychiatrist and founder of the Black Dog Institute
- Jane and Alex Dudley, sharing a deeply personal story of how FMT changed Jane’s life after years living with bipolar disorder
Why this matters
The Microbiome Research Centre (MRC) was launched in 2017 with support from SSMRF and a $6 million federal government grant. It was the first Australian centre solely dedicated to studying the microbiota in health and disease. Since then, the MRC has become a hub for pioneering microbiome research – including a number of projects funded directly by SSMRF through our medical research grants program.
Understanding the gut microbiome could unlock novel treatments for conditions like:
- Depression and bipolar disorder
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Autoimmune conditions
- Pregnancy complications
- Alzheimer’s
How to watch Australian Story
Watch on ABC iview (on demand)
Duration: 30 minutes
About the MRC
The MRC is currently undertaking over 120 research projects, including:
- The MothersBabies Study, looking at the microbiome and pregnancy outcomes
- The Australian Inflammatory Bowel Disease Microbiome (AIM) Study, aiming to improve treatment for thousands living with IBD
- The Healthy Optimal Australian Microbiome (HOAM) Study, looking at what does the ultimate healthy microbiome look like
Research like this doesn’t happen without support.
The Microbiome Research Centre relies on continued funding through the SSMRF to drive its groundbreaking work in mental health, IBD, pregnancy, cancer and more. SSMRF is proud to have helped make the MRC a reality, and we remain committed to raising funds for life-changing medical research that improves lives locally, nationally and globally.
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