UCC professor to investigate the link between lifestyle and gut health

Professor Jens Walter will lead €3.7m research programme, assessing the impact of a modern lifestyle and increasing rates of chronic disease. 

Professor Jens Walter at University College Cork. APC Microbiome Ireland has been awarded a prestigious Science Foundation Ireland research professorship to investigate the impact of a modern lifestyle on the gut microbiome and its relationship to increased incidence of chronic diseases. Picture: Clare Keogh

A UCC-based professor will lead a multi-million euro project aiming to further understand bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms that lurk in our stomachs, and how they affect various diseases.

Professor Jens Walter, who will lead the €3.7m research programme at APC Microbiome Ireland (APC) through Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), will examine the impact of a modern lifestyle on the gut microbiome and its relationship to increased chronic diseases.