M. Maya Kaelberer, PhD

I am a sensory neuro-gastroenterologist. My laboratory studies the connection between the brain and the gut. The goal of my research program is to pioneer a new understanding of how the gut senses and responds to the complex composition of food, going beyond traditional calorie counting. Specifically my research investigates the relationship between the vagus nerve and specialized gut sensory cells, called neuropod cells. Neuropod cells may hold the key to deciphering the "nutritional code" by which the gut identifies and reacts to various nutrients, shaping our food preferences and potentially influencing long-term health. Using a cutting-edge suite of techniques, we aim to map the diverse array of nutrient receptors and signaling pathways within neuropod cells, uncovering how these cells distinguish between different types of sugars, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. This research has profound implications for understanding how our bodies process food and could lead to innovative strategies for addressing diet-related diseases by targeting gut-brain communication pathways.