The ASPIRE Path in Molecular Medicine

During my PhD, my research will focus on defining how the stomach microbiota influences Helicobacter pylori virulence and gastric disease progression. Our collaborators have identified key commensal microbiota differences between H. pylori-infected individuals who developed gastric cancer or gastritis alone. However, the mechanisms behind these phenotypes remain poorly understood. To address this gap, I will use in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo model systems to investigate the changes in microbial and host factors that are modulated by these microbe-microbe interactions. My approach will integrate bacterial co-culturing systems, fluorescence microscopy, and discovery-based tools such as metabolomics to uncover mechanistic insight and identify how non-H. pylori microbes contribute to oncogenesis. To ensure clinical relevance and translational capacity of my findings, human cell lines and gastric organoids generated from human tissue will be leveraged. The insights gained from this study will have direct implications for clinical applications in strengthening risk assessment through utilizing microbiome profiling for non-invasive prognostic methods, disease management, and targeted therapeutic approaches for personalized interventions for gastric disease. By elucidating key microbe-microbe interactions, my research will contribute to a deeper understanding of disease progression and support the development of targeted strategies for managing H. pylori-associated illnesses.