idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
A new junior research group, headed by Dr. Ignacio Rebollo, officially started operations in January 2026 at the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE), marking a significant advancement in the burgeoning field of gut-brain communication. This exciting launch is underpinned by a €1.5 million ERC Starting Grant. Dr. Rebollo and his team will investigate the fascinating interplay between signals originating in the gut and their impact on brain activity, mood, and cognitive function. This crucial area of study has profound implications for our understanding and the treatment of mental health conditions.
A prestigious ERC Starting Grant, awarded to Dr. Rebollo by the European Research Council recognizes the groundbreaking potential of the proposed research. By using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) he, together with his team, will examine how signals from the gut – from the rapid electrical rhythms of stomach contractions to the slower, more subtle waves of hormones – shape the brain. They will delve into these interactions in both healthy individuals and those experiencing depression, employing sophisticated brain imaging techniques and physiological measurements to unravel the complex mechanisms at play.
The Research Vision: Unraveling the Gut-Brain Connection
“I am incredibly excited to start this new research group, to become a leader and mentor, and to embark on this journey of discovery,” says Rebollo. “For over a decade, I've been building towards this vision, and now, with the support of the ERC and a talented team, I am poised to make a real contribution to our understanding of the gut-brain axis and ultimately of mental health conditions which have alarmingly risen.”
The core of the research focuses on a unique integration of gut signals. Most brain research has historically overlooked the direct influence of the gut, but Rebollo and his team aim to bridge this knowledge gap by combining precise recordings of stomach activity through electrogastrography (EGG), hormone sampling, and simultaneous brain scans using advanced EEG and fMRI technology. Rebollo explains: “The gut and brain act like two instruments in an orchestra, playing at different tempos—fast beats from the stomach’s contractions and slower harmonies from hormones. Together, they set the “score” for how alert, hungry, or emotionally tuned we feel.” His junior research group will explore how alertness levels influence the coordination between the brain and stomach, tracking the impact of key gut hormones like ghrelin, insulin, and glucagon-like peptide-1 on mood, appetite, and brain activity, and comparing these processes in individuals with depression. Pharmacological tools will also be employed to modulate gut and brain states deliberately.
Societal Impact: Toward New Treatments
By characterizing the gut‑brain dialogue in detail, the project offers unprecedented insight into how our internal signals influence our thoughts and feelings. “This real‑time dialogue has profound societal relevance,” Dr. Rebollo states. “Imagine witnessing a spike in stomach contractions coinciding with a shift in brain activity – these are the connections my team and I hope to illuminate.”
The findings could pave the way for novel, gut‑centric strategies to detect and treat depression and other mental‑health disorders, including dietary interventions, hormonal therapies and non‑invasive stimulation techniques.
Collaboration and Expertise
Rebollo’s recent work, including a co-first author publication in Nature Mental Health in 2025* discovering a link between stomach-brain coupling and mental health symptoms, demonstrates the growing momentum behind this area of research. Rebollo maintains close research partnerships with leading scientists at the University of Aarhus in Denmark, the Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands, and Universidad de la República in Urugay.
Prof. Grune, Scientific Director at the DIfE congratulats: “We are pleased to support a talented scientist. The five-year project marks a pivotal moment for both Dr. Rebollo and the DIfE. His research topic represents a significant and welcome addition to the strategic priorities of our institute.”
Background information
About the European Research Council (ERC):
The European Research Council (ERC) is the premier funding organization for frontier high-risk research in Europe. The ERC supports excellent scientists and their ambitious, curiosity-driven projects. It funds innovative ideas, regardless of research discipline, strengthening Europe’s position at the frontiers of knowledge.
* Banellis, L., Rebollo, I., Nikolova, N., Allen, M.: Stomach–brain coupling indexes a dimensional signature of mental health. Nature Mental Health 3(8), 899-908 (2025). [Open Access] (https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-025-00468-6)
Dr. Ignacio Rebollo
Head of Junior Research Group Gut-Brain Interactions
phone: +49 33200 88 - 2519
e-Mail: ignacio.rebollo@dife.de
Recording of the activity of the stomach.
Source: David Ausserhofer
Copyright: DIfE
Since January 2026 Dr. Ignacio Rebollo leads the new founded Junior Research Group Gut-Brain Interac ...
Source: David Ausserhofer
Copyright: DIfE
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