Watson Lecture - Sarkis Mazmanian: Trust Your Gut: Microbiome Influences on Brain Health and Disease
Advance registration for Mazmanian's talk is full. Guests who have not registered are still welcome to attend the preshow, which does not require registration, beginning at 6 p.m., featuring food, music, and interactive displays.
After the preshow, non-ticketed guests interested in attending the talk may join our standby line by 6:50 p.m.
About the Talk
Trust Your Gut: Microbiome Influences on Brain Health and Disease
While the brain receives visual, auditory, olfactory, and other sensory information, the majority of molecular input to the brain comes through our gastrointestinal tract. Rather than being isolated, the brain is in constant communication with the gut via neuronal connections, the immune system, or intestinal hormones. Remarkably, many molecules produced by gut bacteria of the human microbiome can be found in the brain.
In this talk, Sarkis Mazmanian, the Luis B. & Nelly Soux Professor of Microbiology and a Merkin Institute Professor, will share his laboratory's work on the fascinating and enigmatic gut–brain connection and its impacts on behavior and brain function. Harnessing the link between gut bacteria to the brain may uncover causes for disorders such as Parkinson's disease, and it may also enable therapies based on entirely novel biological principles.
Evening Schedule
6 p.m. — Activities and music. Food, drinks, and books available for purchase.
7 p.m. — Doors open.
7:30 p.m. — Talk and Q&A.
8:30 p.m. — Post-talk concessions and conversation.
The live event is in-person and a recording will be made available on our Youtube channel.
About the Series
For more than 100 years, the Watson Lectures have brought the wonder of Caltech research and discovery to the public.
Free and open to the public, the Watson Lecture Series offers a unique and accessible opportunity to learn more about cutting-edge science directly from Caltech's premier researchers. Come early to mingle with your neighbors over food, drink and music, as well as interactive displays related to the evening's topic. Then head inside to hear a stimulating talk and stay to ask your burning questions.
Many past Watson Lectures are available on Caltech's YouTube channel.
