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We look forward to seeing you.
Peter Tong

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The Gut-Brain Axis in Autism Spectrum Disorder
By Sarkis Mazmanian
 
The gut microbiome has been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is defined by delayed or reduced social communication and repetition of familiar traits. We discovered that specific molecules produced by the microbiome differ between people with an autism diagnosis and control individuals, with outcomes also reproduced in mouse models. A pilot human study using an oral gut-restricted sequestrant drug showed reduction of specific microbial metabolites in blood after 8 weeks of treatment. Importantly, drug therapy targeting the microbiome was associated with improvements in anxiety and irritability. These findings suggest that changes in the microbiome regulate behaviors associated with ASD and that targeting gut-derived metabolites represents a new approach to treat autism.
 

Sarkis Mazmanian Biography
Sarkis is the Luis & Nelly Soux Professor of Microbiology in the Division of Biology & Biological Engineering at Caltech. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from UCLA, where Sarkis also received his doctoral training in microbiology and immunology. Sarkis was a Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Medical School.
 
His laboratory at Caltech studies the human gut microbiome with a focus on developing novel therapies for immunologic and neurologic disorders, including Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Parkinson’s disease. Sarkis has been a principal investigator on 13 NIH grants, and numerous foundation and industry-sponsored projects.
 
His research accomplishments have been recognized through many awards, including a Searle Scholarship, Damon Runyon Innovation Award, Catalyst Award (UCLA), Discover Magazine’s “Best Brains in Science under 40”, a MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Award, and the DuPont-Danisco Microbiome Science Award.
 
Sarkis is a founder of 3 biotech companies and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of over a dozen companies, academic centers, and not-for-profit foundations. Most importantly, Sarkis has trained numerous students and fellows who have gone on to successful independent careers in academia, industry, and medicine.
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The following Alumni work together to serve you:
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