Rate My Professor Laurence Macia

Her research centers on the nutrition-gut microbiome-immunity axis, exploring how dietary components influence gut microbiota and host physiology to prevent diseases. Key studies include the role of dietary protein in increasing T-cell-independent secretory IgA production (Nature Communications, 2022), dietary carbohydrates, particularly glucose, driving B cell activation (iScience, 2021), and dietary fiber and short-chain fatty acids regulating mucosal immunity (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2023). Additional work examines gut microbiota effects of food additives like titanium dioxide, bacterial extracellular vesicles in host communication, and dietary interventions for multiple sclerosis, funded by MS Australia. Macia's lab investigates optimal methods to manipulate gut microbiota, including through balanced nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction to re-educate the immune system. With over 30 publications in high-impact journals such as Nature Immunology, Immunity, Gut, and Cell Metabolism, her contributions have advanced understanding of diet's role in chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, and metabolic health. She supervises PhD students, postdocs, and honours projects, and leads teams using advanced facilities for global leadership in nutritional immunometabolism.