Elinav’s lab Clinical Research

In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that exercise has a major impact on the composition, function and variety of gut bacteria (the microbiome). At the same time many questions remain open: Does the microbiome affect the level of physical abilities? Do changes in the microbiome play a role in the beneficial effects that exercise has on the human body? In a combined study  conducted by the Weizmann Institute,  Shamir Medical Center and the Wingate Institute, we will try to shed light on this mystery.

This study, conducted in collaboration with the Kaplan Medical Center, seeks to shed light on one of the most complex and miraculous mysteries of human life - childbirth.

In this study, we examine the effects of bacteria in impacting advanced pregnancy and childbirth.

Insights gained from this study will help to develop preventive treatment in many pregnancy-related diseases such as premature birth, complications of prematurity, and more.

This is a non interventional observational study and participation does not endanger the volunteers or their fetus.

The impact of nutrition on human health begins in infancy. Following our groundbreaking study in adults in which we developed personalized nutrition, the world is moving towards personalization of dietary recommendations based on individualized microbiome and clinical data. This study, conducted in collaboration with the Schneider Pediatric Medical Center, aims to develop personalized nutritional algorithms in children, based on the Mediterranean diet. We aim to develop a healthy and data-driven diet that would help to maintain children healthy while avoiding or treating childhood obesity and related complications.

Dietary fibers are known for their health benefits- improving the digestive process, lowering blood glucose and lipids, providing a long-lasting feeling of satiety, and preventing cancer.  However, not all fibers are created equal! Each person's gut bacteria are able to break down different fiber combinations, while allowing our body to use them. Based on our groundbreaking discovery of personalized nutrition, we aim to develop ways to individually tailor each person's dietary fiber intake to their individual gut bacteria profile, thereby optimizing their health benefits.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent symptomatic disorder that affects 10% of the population – causing frequent diarrhea and/or constipation accompanied by intense abdominal pain. Today, the best option to treat symptoms of IBS patients is to conduct an elimination diet called “a low-FODMAP diet” – which achieves first-rate symptom improvement. The concept behind this dietary regime is to eliminate molecules that are highly fermented by gut bacteria and reduce the fermentation products they produce and their overall activity. We aim to characterize the gut microbiome of healthy individuals and IBS patients and to uncover the mechanisms that might mediate symptom recovery.

Many diets are successful in the short run, but following a successful weight loss, up to 80% of all successful dieters tend to re-develop weight gain, a process named relapsing obesity or yoyo obesity. We’ve previously discovered that this exaggerated weight regain tendency is mediated by gut microbe “memory” of past obesity, that predisposes to yoyo obesity following a successful diet. In this study, our team of clinicians, researchers and dietitians will follow participants suffering of obesity in a carefully managed dietary plan, and will test innovative methods of ‘resetting’ the gut microbes as means of preventing yoyo obesity.