Decoding maternal and early-life microbes in nervous system development and function, and behavior
The trillions of microbes in and on our bodies impact numerous aspects of our physiology. There are several studies that link gut microbiota to neurobiology and behavior. Our lab aims to dissect the role of microbes in the development of the nervous system, neural circuit function, and behaviors in health and neurological disorders. We will use interdisciplinary approaches to identify and characterize the mechanisms of interaction between microbes and host neural cells.
We use a longitudinal approach to track and investigate direct and long-term effects of microbially-derived molecules on brain development in utero, in early postnatal, and adult neural circuits. We aim to leverage the microbiome for diagnoses and therapeutic potential in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Lab News
2024
New member alert Minjeong Kim joins the Vuong lab as an postdoctoral scholar. Excited to have you, Minjeong!
Helen is named a 2024 Julie Ross Faculty Innovator in Basic Science by the Department of Pediatrics!
New member alert Meredith McDowell joins the Vuong lab as an undergraduate researcher. Welcome aboard, Meredith!
2023
Chloe received a graduate student seed grant from the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. Congratulations Chloe!
New member alert Megan Lewandowski joins the Vuong lab as our gnotobiotic manager. happy to have you on the team, Megan!
Helen is named a 2023 Masonic Scholar by the Masonic Charities!
New member alert Modi Aldhafeeri will join the Vuong lab as an undergraduate student. Welcome aboard, Modi!
Helen is named a 2023 Pew Biomedical Scholar by the Pew Charitable Trusts! Press release
New member alert Aryan Shekarabi will join the Vuong lab as a PhD student. Aryan is from the Department of Oral Biology DDS/PhD program. Excited to have you on board, Aryan!
New member alert Chloe Puglisi will join the Vuong lab as a PhD student. Chloe is from the Graduate Program in Neuroscience. Happy to have you on this journey, Chloe!
Helen is named a 2023 Sloan Research Fellow by the Alfred P. Sloan foundation! Press release
2022
New member alert Olivia Pace will join the Vuong lab as an undergraduate student researcher. Welcome to the team, Olivia!
The lab’s first preview ‘Crushing it: Indole-3 propionate promotes axonal regeneration in mice’ is published in the Cell Host & Microbe. Read it here
The lab’s first review on the role of the microbiome in neurodevelopment is published in the International Review of Neurobiology. Read it here
New member alert Amanda Borowski will join the Vuong lab as a research assistant in July. Welcome to the team, Amanda!
The Vuong lab at the U of MN Medical School Department of Pediatrics opens its doors. It’s cold!