



ENIGMA Study - The Gut Microbiota
Understanding the ecosystem within us may lead to disease cures
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Within the gut resides a vast ecosystem of bacteria, fungi and viruses, otherwise known as the gut microbiota. This ecosystem comprises 90 percent of the cells in our body. Our normal human cells therefore constitute only a minority of the cells in our body.
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We are working with scientists to unravel the exact nature of these organisms in our gut, and the role they play in causing or curing disease. New molecular techniques are identifying previously unknown bacterial species. New insights are also emerging about the effect of diet on the gut bacteria and how this might affect gut inflammation.
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The presence and function of the microbiota are essential to our wellbeing - these organisms perform a range of functions critical to development, growth, metabolic function, and protection from disease. However, the gut microbiota is now also thought to play some role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, arthritis, and allergic diseases.
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Identifying particular bacteria that play a role in disease can have an enormous impact. For example, identification of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori by Australian Nobel prize-winning researchers led to the virtual eradication of stomach and bowel ulcer disease. That single observation was one of the key medical discoveries of the twentieth century.
Of a similar magnitude, discovery of the rotavirus as the commonest cause of childhood diarrhoea, by scientists at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, together with the subsequent development of a vaccine, has had a huge impact on childhood illness and death worldwide. There are more discoveries to be made in this area.
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Manipulating the gut microbiota may also be valuable. Our recent study demonstrating the success of faecal transplant for patients with ulcerative colitis demonstrates how powerful this approach can be.
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AGIRF is supporting clinical projects that will harness the power of gut bacteria manipulation. Our scientific projects will identify which gut bacteria are the most important in causing and curing disease.
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The ENIGMA II Study (Eastern Inflammatory Bowel Disease Gut Microbiota) - is a collaboration with our colleagues at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. This study combines basic science, dietetics and clinical science to form a unique and powerful research combination to address the role of the gut microbiota and diet in surging Crohn's disease prevalence. The ENIGMA II Study is making fundamental discoveries about the key microbial organisms and related dietary factors that cause and contribute to the development of IBD in the West, and in the East (Hong Kong and China) where IBD incidence is rapidly increasing.
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The ENIGMA II Studies would not be possible without the generous support of the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Foundation.
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The ecosystem within our gut is central to our well-being, but also to the development of many gut and non-gut disorders. Its scientific exploration is leading to new therapies and cures.
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Melbourne Clinical Site Staff

PROFESSOR MICHAEL KAMM
PROFESSOR OF
GASTROENTEROLOGY
The University of Melbourne and
St Vincent’s Hospital

MS. ANNALISE STANLEY RESEARCH NURSE SPECIALIST
University of Melbourne,
St Vincent’s Hospital

DR. GINA TRAKMAN
RESEARCH DIETITIAN
University of Melbourne,
St Vincent’s Hospital

DR. AMY HAMILTON
CLINICAL SCIENTIST
University of Melbourne,
St Vincent’s Hospital

DR. AMY WILSON-O'BRIEN
CLINICAL SCIENTIST
University of Melbourne,
St Vincent’s Hospital
Queensland Scientific Staff

PROFESSOR MARK MORRISON
PROFESSOR OF MICROBIOLOGY
The Diamantina Institute,
The University of Queensland

DR. SEUNGHA KANG
RESEARCH FELLOW
The Diamantina Institute,
The University of Queensland

DR. ERWIN BERENDSEN
RESEARCH FELLOW
The Diamantina Institute,
The University of Queensland

DR. EMILY HOEDT
RESEARCH FELLOW
The Diamantina Institute,
The University of Queensland

MR JING JIE TEH
PHD CANDIDATE
The Diamantina Institute,
The University of Queensland
Hong Kong Clinical and Scientific Staff

PROFESSOR SIEW NG
PROFESSOR OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

JESSICA CHING
STUDY COORDINATOR
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

WINNIE LIN
RESEARCH DIETITIAN
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

PROFESSOR JUN YU
PROFESSOR OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

LEO OR
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

DR. WENDY ZANG
RESEARCH FELLOW
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

PROFESSOR JOSEPH SUNG
PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

WHITNEY TANG
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

ZHANG FEN
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
The Chinese University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Research Institute
China Clinical Investigators

PROFESSOR ZHIHUA RAN
PROFESSOR OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
Ren Ji Hospital and Jiao Tong University, Shanghai

PROFESSOR MINHU CHEN
PROFESSOR OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou

PROFESSOR KAICHUN WU
PROFESSOR OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
Fourth Military Medical University, Xian

PROFESSOR JIAN QIU SHENG
PROFESSOR OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
The General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Bejing