A Gut Feeling: How Analytical Chemistry Provides Insight Into the Signaling and Function of the Gut

There is a growing need for bioanalytical/bioengineering methods in general as the need for diagnostics and mechanistic understanding of gut-brain axis and gut-related disorders continue to rise. Novel analytical chemistry approaches that can monitor the function of the bowel can provide a vital tool for drug screening. This session brings together experts in analytical chemistry and bioengineering who specializes in development of biosensors and separation techniques for monitoring key chemicals that regulate the gut. Speakers in this proposed session will cover topics that include soft electronics for in situ biological detection in the gut and brain; neurochemical sensing in a gut-on-a-chip; fast scan cyclic voltammetry for quantifying gut metabolites such as short chain fatty acids; microfluidic device for culturing organotypic intestinal tissue; and an in vivo anorectum probe for detecting age-related bowel dysfunction. These presentations will provide a unique insight into the latest developments in analytical devices and methodology to understand the digestive tract. These topics will be broadly appealing to the scientific community in the South Central and Southwestern region of the United States as there is a rapidly growing community of biotechnology and biomedical industries in these regions. The panel of speakers invited in this session span a range of gender, racial, and ethnic groups as well as span a wide geographical range (from different corners of United States as well as abroad). Additionally, the session includes speakers with a range of experiences (including junior tenure-track faculty and established faculty).