Stools! (not the furniture) by Daniel Johnson

Oh, you’re here again! We’re in our 3rd week of TRIP now, halfway through, which means it’s time for us to begin our independent research projects. Exciting, right? I’d celebrate this step with ice cream, except that I’m allergic to dairy. That’s actually what inspired my project. Food allergies like my dairy allergy are currently being researched for treatment with fecal transplants-- replenishing a patient’s gut microbiota with a donor’s stool. Clinical trials with the transplants are also ongoing for a variety of other conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease. Knowing it would be more feasible to simulate IBD than a food allergy, I asked my question. 

Are fecal transplants a more effective treatment for IBD than traditional steroids?

I must admit that I had no idea where to begin at first, but the pieces have been coming together. The skills I’ve learned in the past few weeks have proved invaluable. After working with Dr. Leystra and my new friends here, doing more math than you’d expect in a fly experiment, and measuring a LOT of fly food, I’m confident in the direction my project is going. Pretty soon, I’ll have real data to report, and I’ll be able to see for myself what possibilities fecal transplants hold. 

I’m exploring an area of science that is still largely unknown, and it absolutely fascinates me. This is a project I’m invested in, and I’m surrounded by smart people that make the whole time more enjoyable. I’m excited for the weeks to come, I’ll see you in the next blog!