Postdoc Improving chemotherapy induced mucositis

Gastro-intestinal (GI) mucositis is a severe side effect of chemotherapy, causing diarrhoea, decreased nutritional intake, pain, blood stream infections, treatment delays and decreased quality of life. Unfortunately, there are no interventions that prevent or shorten the course of GI mucositis. In our research group we have developed rat models to study chemotherapy induced mucositis and used it to study: i) the function of the gut during mucositis, ii) the relationship between the gut microbiome and mucositis, and iii) possible interventions or prevent or manage mucositis. Using this model, we have recently shown that a specialized diet prevented GI mucositis and its symptoms. This is a remarkable achievement as, despite extensive (inter)national research in this field, no interventions for the prevention or treatment of GI mucositis have been developed.
In the proposed study we will build on those earlier findings. We will study, again using our established animal model, which elements of the diet drive the beneficial response and the mechanisms driving these benefits. Knowing this, we will be able to develop an optimal diet with the best understanding needed for rapid and confident clinical translation.