Sophie Ivarsson
Doctoral student
Master's Degree
I have always been fascinated by science and biology, especially how our bodies are built and function. It is amazing how cells work together to build up organs that function together as a body. What I find even more fascinating are the bacterial cells living inside our gut and the big impact they have on our bodies and health. It is amazing how these bacteria also contribute to the network that makes our bodies function as they do!
Understanding how the gut microbiota influences the cells and organs in our human bodies, either beneficial or harmful, is what drives me as a researcher.
The focus of my research is on bacterial metabolites from the gut microbiota and their effects on the health of the host. These bacterial metabolites are absorbed from the gut into the body and can affect many organs in different ways. I am trying to understand the relationship between such metabolites and cardiometabolic disease, with special focus on heart and liver. My research involves work with genetically modified animal models. I am using microsurgical techniques and analysis of glucose- and insulin sensitivity to investigate systemic effects. I also use histological and molecular techniques to study the impact of bacterial metabolites on organ and cellular levels.
I hope to contribute to the knowledge of how our bodies are affected by the gut microbiota and how we can prevent disease caused by our bacterial inhabitants!