You might've heard me say it before: "The gut is the second brain."

With over two decades of leadership in biotech, pharma, and academia, my guest on today's show, Colleen Cutliffe, is gut-deep :) in microbiome knowledge. Her path, spanning from the hallowed halls of Johns Hopkins University to groundbreaking initiatives at Pacific Biosciences and Elan Pharmaceuticals, showcases an unyielding curiosity about the mysteries of the human body. Now, as the driving force behind Pendulum Therapeutics, Colleen is charting new territories in the world of the microbiome.

Akkermansia muciniphila, one of Pendulum's products, is a unique oval-shaped bacterium that thrives in the human gastrointestinal tract. This anaerobic microbe predominantly resides at the junction between oxygen-rich and oxygen-depleted zones of the intestines. Found in about 90% of healthy individuals, it constitutes 1% to 3% of your fecal microbiota. However, its prevalence can decrease with age or certain diseases.

In today's chat, Colleen unravels the enigma of the gut-brain axis and its monumental influence on the microbiome's functionality. She sheds light on the role of natural agents like berberine, bitter melon extract, apple cider vinegar, and even pharmaceuticals like metformin in regulating blood sugar. With insights into the importance of Akkermansia muciniphila in GLP-1 production and the captivating genetic variations within the microbiome, this conversation promises a comprehensive look at gut health like never before.

Full show notes: https://bengreenfieldlife.com/pendulumpodcast

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