NUTRIM Division II
Liver & Digestive Health
Research performed in this division encompasses human intervention studies, epidemiological and fundamental in vivo and in vitro research.
Research Themes
The availability of patient cohorts combined with research expertise in metabolism, immunity, epidemiology, surgery and microbiology allows us to integrate different perspectives on complex interactions between genetics and environment leading to pathologies.
Research Focus
NUTRIM Division II aims to provide novel insight into the pathophysiological processes of the gut and liver and translate these findings to the clinic. The division researches various disorders including inflammatory bowel disease, liver failure, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer cachexia, cholestasis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
While the main research focus lies within the gut-liver axis and its enterohepatic circulation, Division II also aims to extrapolate research findings to related organ systems such as the cardiovascular or central nervous system. In addition, it examines interorgan crosstalk as well as the role of microbiota on physiology and different pathologies.
Research Impact
The close collaboration between epidemiologists, geneticists, basic scientists and clinicians as well as the proximity of the MUMC and Maastricht University strongly serve this division’s goal to perform translational research aiming to improve the diagnosis and therapy of the patient in the clinic. Our division generates novel approaches for the diagnosis (biomarkers) and treatment of gut-liver disorders.
Events
News
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Favourable gut flora in very young infants reduces their chances of developing allergies. Good gut bacteria that leave anti-inflammatory metabolites in the intestinal tract are much more prolific in non-allergic children. This was the finding of a long-term study by Maastricht researchers on the gut flora in 400 infants.
