Biography

Education and Training

About Me

I earned my Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, India, and have over 20 years of research experience in neuroscience, gastrointestinal physiology, and translational biomedical research. My research focuses on understanding the gut-brain axis (GBA), a bidirectional communication network connecting the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system.

Often referred to as the "second brain," the gut contains an extensive enteric nervous system and is home to trillions of microorganisms that play critical roles in human health. Gut bacteria contribute to the synthesis and regulation of key neurotransmitters, thereby influencing brain development, cognition, behavior, immunity, and disease susceptibility.

My research seeks to elucidate how alterations in the gut microbiome and gut-brain communication contribute to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), chronic stress, neurological disorders, colon cancer, and ionizing radiation-induced injury. By integrating microbiome science, neuroscience, immunology, and cancer biology, I aim to identify novel molecular mechanisms and develop microbiome-based therapeutic strategies for preventing and treating complex human diseases. 

Publications 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/pradeep.shukla.1/bibliography/public/