About the project
We are building a digital twin of the gut–immune–brain axis to decode how lifestyle and inflammation shape mental health and dementia risk. By integrating multi-omics and clinical data, this pioneering model will simulate disease onset, progression and response to treatment, unlocking personalised strategies for healthier aging.
Mental health disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia are increasingly linked to chronic, low-grade inflammation originating in the gut. The gut–immune–brain (GIBA) axis, a complex communication network involving microbial, immune, neural, and metabolic pathways, plays a critical role in regulating brain function. However, the integrative dynamics of this axis remain poorly understood due to biological complexity and individual variability. This limits our ability to predict disease onset, progression, and response to treatment.
This project aims to address this gap by developing a digital twin of the GIBA axis. This computational model will simulate how lifestyle factors, such as diet, sleep or stress, and inflammation influence mental health and cognitive decline. We will integrate publicly available multi-modal datasets, including genomics, transcriptomics, neuroimaging, microbiome profiles, and clinical biomarkers. Using systems biology and machine learning, we will build and validate mechanistic models of gut–immune–brain interactions, enabling simulation of disease trajectories and therapeutic responses.
The intended outcome is a dynamic, personalised tool that can predict risk and guide interventions for conditions such as depression and dementia. This research offers a scalable, data-driven approach to understand and mitigate brain disorders, and importantly, ways to modify their outcomes. By bridging biological complexity with digital innovation, our work has the potential to transform mental health and dementia research and promote healthier aging through targeted lifestyle and therapeutic strategies.
