Shirish Barve, Ph.D., long has been an international leader in the field of the gut microbiome and the gut-brain axis. As the lead of the newly established Norton Neuroscience Institute Cressman Parkinson’s Research team, Dr. Barve heads efforts to expand clinical research on the role of the gut microbiome in neurodegenerative diseases.

In the past two years, Dr. Barve has laid the groundwork for combining neuroscience research in various areas, including autism, Parkinson’s disease, perioperative delirium and Alzheimer’s disease. Through collaborations with leading scientists across the country and with the expertise of clinicians at Norton Neuroscience Institute, he is developing novel research programs to investigate the role of the gut microbiome in the development of cognitive impairment, including in common conditions like delirium after surgery and dementia. These initial studies may then lead to the development of precision medicine approaches to treatment and ultimately prevention of these disabling neurological diseases.