BrainGutAnalytics · Multiomics based analysis of brain-gut axis: A search for gastrointestinal disease phenotypes

Multiomics based analysis of brain-gut axis: A search for gastrointestinal disease phenotypes

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a well-known gastrointestinal disorder, which affects about 10% of global human population. IBS alters bowel habits of affected patients by means of diarrhoea, constipation, or a mix of both of these conditions. This is often accompanied by unexplained abdominal pain, fatigue and aggravated food sensitivities, which together significantly deteriorate the quality of life of a patient with IBS. Traditionally, IBS is thought to be a functional gastrointestinal disorder as its origin was associated with the dysfunction of gut related variables e.g. intestinal motility, transit time and motor complexes. However, the recent scientific literature instead describes IBS as a consequence of dysfunction of Brain-Gut-Microbiota (BGM) axis. The BGM axis is a relatively new but rapidly emerging theory in the field of medicine and gastrointestinal health, which refers to the presence of an intricate and bi-directional relationship between human gut and brain. This nexus is thought to be modulated by the diverse colonies of gut microbiome through neuronal signalling, immune system and systemic circulation channels. A disruption in BGM axis is hypothesised as an underlying cause of various previously unexplained psychological as well as gastrointestinal disorders, such as IBS. As the exact aetiology of IBS is unknown, a clear differential diagnosis test that can identify IBS in patients does not yet exists. Instead, IBS is often termed as a ‘diagnosis of exclusion’ as various other overlapping gastrointestinal disorders first need to be ruled out before IBS can be determined. The additional diagnostic testing significantly increases physical and emotional suffering for the patients as a clear diagnosis for IBS is a starting point to receive an effective treatment. This also causes additional burden and financial strain on national health system as the clinicians and gastroenterologists who work with IBS cases on a day to day basis are obliged to spend more time and resources for diagnosing IBS compared to other gastrointestinal disorders. This Marie Skłodowska Curie (MSC) Individual Fellowship action entitled "Multiomics based analysis of brain-gut axis: A search for gastrointestinal disease phenotypes” and abbreviated as BrainGutAnalytics, aims to study brain-gut axis and associated irritable bowel syndrome by employing advanced data science, machine learning and statistical analysis techniques. The keys aim of this research is to search for novel, exclusive and generalisable digital phenotypes of IBS from multiomics datasets, which can be used as reliable biomarkers for IBS. The secondary aim of this work is to translate these biomarkers into a novel test for IBS diagnosis, which can be applied in regular clinical practice.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union