Our research in Gut–Brain Axis and Translational Psychiatry focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms that determine individual variability in response to stress and shape vulnerability or resilience to psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. By integrating findings from animal models and human studies, we aim to bridge fundamental biological discoveries with clinically relevant applications, advancing the development of personalized approaches to mental health.

A central component of our work is the investigation of the gut–brain axis, a complex bidirectional communication network linking the gastrointestinal system and the brain through neural, endocrine, immune, and microbial pathways. We examine how interactions between the gut microbiome, immune signaling, hormonal regulation, and brain function influence behavior, emotional responses, and susceptibility to stress-related psychopathology.

Using our unique mouse models of dominance and submissiveness, which represent opposite stress-response phenotypes, we identify biological signatures associated with behavioral resilience and vulnerability. Our studies combine microbiome profiling with molecular, genetic, and hormonal analyses to uncover biomarkers and pathways that distinguish stress-resilient from stress-vulnerable individuals. Particular attention is given to mechanisms involving the gut microbiome, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, dopaminergic signaling, inflammatory processes, and genes regulating synaptic plasticity.

By exploring how gut–brain communication interacts with genetic and neurobiological factors, we seek to identify individual risk profiles and novel biomarkers that can support early diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted interventions. Ultimately, our goal is to translate mechanistic insights into innovative and personalized therapeutic strategies for stress-related behavioral and affective disorders.