Why is the gut so important for health?

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Speakers:

Dr. Richard Fedorak, MD, FRCPC, FRCP (London), FRSC
Dean of Medicine, University of Alberta

Dr. Richard N Fedorak is Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is also Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Alberta. Outside of the University Dr Fedorak is President, Canadian Digestive Health Foundation (CDHF) and Chairman, Research Committee, World Gastroenterology Organization. He is a member of the Medical Staff at both the University of Alberta Hospitals and the Cross Cancer Institute, and is a Consulting Physician at the Stollery Children's Health Centre of Northern Alberta and the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

In 1978, Dr. Fedorak received his medical degree with First Class Honours from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. His postdoctoral training included an internship at the University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario, and residency training in General Internal Medicine at the University of Toronto. His Gastroenterology Clinical and Research Fellowship training was carried out at the University of Chicago and Columbia University, New York. In 1987, Dr. Fedorak returned to the University of Alberta as an Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Clinical Investigator.

A recipient of numerous awards, research fellowships and grants, Dr. Fedorak is a recognised expert in inflammatory bowel disease. He has an active basic gastrointestinal research laboratory in the area of mucosal immunology, inflammation, and membrane function and structure. In addition, he leads a large gastrointestinal disease clinical research group. Dr. Fedorak serves on multiple national and international scientific advisory boards. He has published over 500 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters, produced two patents on colonic-specific drug delivery, and has lectured around the world. He has multiple grant review committee memberships and editorial positions with front ranked gastrointestinal journals.

In 2011 Dr. Fedorak founded a University spin-out company, Metabolomic Technologies Inc. (www.metabolomicttechnologies.ca), which is developing a patented urine-based screening test for detection of colonic adenomatous polyps as its flagship diagnostic test for clinical practice.

Dr. Fedorak has served as President of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, President of the University of Alberta Hospital Medical Staff, President of the Alberta Society of Gastroenterology, President of the World Congress of Gastroenterology Bid Federation, General Secretary of the Pan American Congress of Gastroenterology and President of the World Congress of Gastroenterology. Dr. Fedorak has been appointed as a Fellow, Royal College of Physicians, London, Fellow, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. At home Dr Fedorak enjoys life to its fullest with his wife, Karen, and their two children, Kristin and Bryan.

Presentation Overview/Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract has moved beyond an organ associated with simple nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Instead, the explosion of investigation into the gut microbiome is changing this paradigm. Laboratory studies in animal models continue to provide insights into the role of the gut microbiota in health and also generate hypotheses relating to its potential involvement in the pathogenesis of human disease. Rapid developments in technologies that permit us to enumerate and evaluate the full complement of bacterial species and strains that normally inhabit the gut are leading to studies of the composition of human gut microbiota and their relation to human health and disease. The emerging role of the gut microbiome-host interactions in human systemic cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory, neurologic and mental health disorders is an example of this paradigm shift. Furthermore, the understanding of these gut microbiome changes are guiding us into novel therapies and diagnostics.

***Original Source: "2017 Thematic Conference", Saturday, January 14, 2017

Length: 48:02

Type: Video

Last Updated: February 2, 2017