Affiliation: University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Dr. Pradeep Kumar Shukla is currently working as an assistant professor (Physiology) at UTHSC, Memphis. He completed his PhD from Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, India. He haa eighteen years of research experience in neuroscience and gut physiology and his research focus lies in understanding the gut-brain interaction and its association with various neurological disorders. The gut-brain axis (GBA) establishes bidirectional communication between the central and the enteric nervous system, links emotional and cognitive centers of the brain with peripheral intestinal functions. Clinical evidence shows that microbiota mediated GBA interactions comes from the association of dysbiosis with central nervous disorders (i.e., autism, anxiety-depressive behaviors, alcohol liver disease) and functional gastrointestinal disorders. In particular, irritable bowel syndrome can be considered as an example of the disruption of these complex relationships, and a better understanding of these alterations might provide new targeted therapies.