News

Professor David Cameron-Smith explores the complex interplay between the human gut microbiome and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Drawing from recent research and international consensus guidelines, he outlines the challenges in identifying causative microbial pathways, and evaluates the current role of diet, probiotics, prebiotics, and emerging microbiome-directed therapies. The presentation highlights the limitations of restrictive diets, the nuances of fibre use in active versus remission phases, and the potential of whole-of-diet approaches such as Mediterranean or anti-inflammatory dietary patterns. While acknowledging significant gaps in the evidence, David provides a summary of where we are now and what future directions may look like, including the promise of AI and precision medicine.

Learn about:

• The current evidence on how diet, particularly plant-based and fermented foods, influences gut microbiome diversity and function in inflammatory bowel disease.
• The limitations and emerging potential of microbiome-targeted therapies, including prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, and faecal microbiota transplantation.
• The importance of personalised, whole-of-diet strategies in managing IBD, aligned with evolving international dietary guidelines and consensus statements.

Professor David Cameron-Smith is a globally recognised clinical scientist, with 25 years’ experience in human nutrition research. His scientific research includes leading 20+ registered clinical trials and publishing 300+ scientific papers covering many aspects of nutritional biochemistry and health. His focus is on the mechanisms (biochemical, genetic, microbiome) that connect dietary intake with health outcomes, with a focus on ageing, muscles and cardiovascular health.

To register for the presentation and associated documents including the assessment quiz click here