Digestive Physiology and Nutrition Group
Our group focuses on digestive physiology. We use animal models of digestive disorders, including gastrointestinal manifestations of neurological disorders (notably Parkinson’s Disease), inflammatory bowel disease, and gastric disorders, including gastroparesis. We are also investigating the gut-brain axis in relation to mood and mood disorders, incorporating selective stimulation of abdominal vagal and gut-associated neural pathways. We work with clinical colleagues to advance translation of our findings.
Research interests
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About our research
Our research programs include investigating:
- digestive problems in Parkinson’s disease and the communication pathways between the gut and brain
- the effect of stimulating the release of gut hormones on affective states (mood and anxiety)
- the stomach, its physiological control and its two-way communication with the brain
- the biological basis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
- gastric disorders: idiopathic, diabetic and iatrogenic gastroparesis
- pathways of neuroimmune interactions in the intestine, including vagal, sympathetic and enteric nervous system pathways
- the prevention of complications of Hirschsprung disease through stem cell replacement of missing neurons
- disorders of the large intestine, including constipation, diarrhea and Hirschsprung disease.
Research team
Research team head
Group Head
Team members
Dr Nicole (Niki) Sumargo
Research Assistant
Scott Carter
Research Assistant
Chatu Liyanage
Project Student
Postdoctoral fellows
Dr Myat Noe (Cherish) Han
Postdoctoral researcher
Dr Pratik Thakkar
Postdoctoral researcher
PHD student
Chenxi Mei
PhD student
Selected publications
- Furness, JB, Marklund U, Czapla, BJ, Bornstein, JC, Han, MN (2026) Functional characterization and classification of enteric neurons, and regional differences in neural control of digestive functions. Autonomic Neuroscience 265, 103412 (2026). doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2026.103412
- Felippe, I. S. A., Babbage, T. L., Shaheen, R., Bassetto, M., Fan, J.-L., Pauza, A., Gold, O., Thakkar, P., Dawes, M., Bates, M. L., McBryde, F., Fountain, S. J., Fisher, J. P., & Paton, J. F. R. (2026). Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal 5′ Phosphate) antagonises carotid body P2X3 receptors in hypertension. Cardiovascular Research, 122(2), 285-296, doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvaf195
- Di Natale, M. R., Wang, X., Hunne, B., Wraight, M., Liu, Z., Han, M. N., & Furness, J. B. (2026). Regional specialisations of innervation and musculature of the rat stomach. J Anat. 249, 634-651 doi:10.1111/joa.70105
- Gogoi, A., Babu, M., Gangadhar, A., Shirin, R., Thomas, D. A., Jayaram, J., Thakkar, P., & Datta, A. (2026). Proteomics of In Vivo models of ischemic stroke: A systematic review with a systems biological perspective. Ageing Research Reviews, 113, 102937, doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2025.102937
- Sivakumar, J, Furness, JB, Grayden, DB, Fallon, J, Cottrell, J, Duong, CP (2026) Neural gastric electrical stimulation: future prospects in managing gastric emptying disorders. J Neurogast Motil 32, 19-29 (2026). doi: 5056/jnm25106
- Shen, X., Pauza, A. G., Gold, O. M. S., Felippe, I. S. A., Thakkar, P., & Paton, J. F. R. (2026). Glomus cell heterogeneity underpins distinct carotid body chemoreflex pathways: implications for hypertension. Cardiovascular Research, 122(10), 1391-1407, doi:10.1093/cvr/cvag118
- Van Mechelen, K, Zhao,J, Di Natale, MR, Jiang, L, Lai, D, Yu, H, Querejazu MO, Furness, JB, Vanden Berghe, P, Hao, MM, Stamp, LA (2026) Unlocking the neurogenic potential of enteric glial cells for Hirschsprung Disease therapy. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 20, 101693 (2026) org/10.1016/j.jcmgh.2025.101693
- Thakkar, P., & Parihar, A. (2026). Heart Failure in Cystic Fibrosis: Treatment and Prognosis. Cystic Fibrosis: Disease Management and Advanced Drug Delivery Systems. doi: 10.1201/9781779640413-14
- Dehkhoda, F., Ringuet, M. T., Whitfield, E. A., Mutunduwe, K., Whelan, F., Nowell, C. J., . . . Furness, S. G. B. (2025). Constitutive ghrelin receptor activity enables reversal of dopamine D2 receptor signaling. Mol Cell, 85(11), 2246-2260.e2210. doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2025.05.005
- Ekwudo, M. N., Masson, B., Di Natale, M. R., Kiridena, P., van de Garde, N., Lei, E., . . . Hannan, A. J. (2025). Prebiotics improve motor function, cognition and gut health in a preclinical model of Huntington’s disease. Brain Behav Immun, 130, 106074. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2025.106074
Contact us
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