Current Funding
Brain & Behavior Research Foundation: Young Investigator Grant (2024-2026)
Gut microbiome and stress reactivity at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Depression and Alzheimer’s disease share common underlying mechanisms, one of which is a dysfunctional stress response that is shaped by the gut microbiome. The project will examine the link between gut bacteria and stress reactivity in individuals with genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Austrian Science Fund: Research Group (2024-2029)
Gut-immune-brain axis dysfunction in premature neonates. The project will investigate the effects of premature birth and associated gut-immune-brain dysbiosis on longer-term brain development and cognitive function in mouse models and children. Read more.
Austrian Science Fund: Cluster of excellence (2023-2028)
Microbiomes drive planetary health. Earth’s microbiomes are the foundation of planetary health, as they underpin almost all ecosystem services that humans depend on. As part of this consortium, we will test the effects of faecal microbiome transplantation on the gut-brain axis in mouse models and patients with gastrointestinal disorders. Read more.
Austrian Science Fund: Stand-Alone Project (2021-2024)
Hexadirectional coding of social memory. This project examines whether social navigation and recognition are supported by grid-like codes in the human brain, and whether there is a break-down at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, which is most devastating when patients fail to recognise significant others. Read more.