Working Group 3
How do neuro-immune-stromal interactions affect the GIBA in health and disease?
Characterising the various cell types of the GIBA, communication between them, and their role in health and disease.
Communication between the gut and brain is incredibly complex, involving lots of different cell types, such as nerves, immune and gut cells. Along the length of our gut, the distribution of these cells varies widely. For example, your colon is connected to different nerves than your small intestine. Our working group contains experts that study the communication between these various cell types in the context of health and disease. We meet monthly to share research findings, protocols and knowledge across our different areas of expertise.
Working Group Lead
Franziska Denk
Working group lead
Franziska Denk is a Reader at King’s College London, where she works on neuro-immune-stromal cell interactions in the context of chronic pain.
Her team uses transgenic models, stem cell derived human cell culture systems and high-throughput molecular analyses Franziska’s current work is funded by the Wellcome Trust and UKRI and includes a project to understand the neural basis of visceral pain via the ADVANTAGE consortium, an MRC/ Versus Arthritis-funded Advanced Pain Discovery Platform. Franziska will bring her peripheral nervous system expertise to the GIBA+ Network+, ensuring that our perspective extends beyond the brain.
