Hollis du Pont

I am fascinated by the bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut: how changes in brain state influence gut physiology, and how gut health, in turn, shapes neural function. During my B.S. in Human Biology at Stanford University, I worked in the Sonnenburg Lab, where I investigated how microbial community composition relates to metabolite profiles in fermented foods. This experience deepened my appreciation of how profoundly diet and the gut microbiome can influence brain health and behavior, motivating me to further explore the mechanistic basis of the gut-brain axis. I am now pursuing an MSc in Neuroscience at the University of Oxford to expand this line of research within a neurobiological framework. As an MSc student in the Salman Group, I am investigating how vagal nerve function is affected by mutations associated with Parkinson’s disease. Using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we differentiate vagal neurons and perform a range of functional assays, including 3D in vitro electrophysiological recordings, protein analyses, and transcriptomic comparisons. This work aims to determine whether Parkinson’s-associated mutations alter vagal neuronal function in ways that may influence gut–brain signaling. By clarifying the role of the vagus nerve in neurodegenerative pathology, our findings may help guide future therapeutic strategies targeting peripheral-central communication pathways.