Scientific Advisory Board
Our advisory board includes researchers and clinicians whose work has shaped the field of functional gastroenterology.
Dr. Emeran Mayer
MD, PhD
Chair, Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Emeran Mayer is a gastroenterologist, neuroscientist, and Distinguished Research Professor at UCLA. He is the author of The Mind-Gut Connection and The Gut-Immune Connection, and has published over 370 peer-reviewed articles on the bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut. His research has fundamentally shaped our understanding of how emotions, stress, and the gut microbiome influence digestive health.
Author of The Mind-Gut Connection (2016) and The Gut-Immune Connection (2021)
Dr. Shanti Eswaran
MD
Advisory Board Member
Dr. Shanti Eswaran is a gastroenterologist and Associate Professor at the University of Michigan. She is the principal investigator of a landmark randomized controlled trial comparing the low-FODMAP diet to standard dietary advice in IBS patients, published in Gastroenterology. Her clinical research focuses on improving dietary management strategies for IBS and making evidence-based nutritional interventions more accessible.
PI of landmark low-FODMAP vs. traditional IBS diet RCT (Gastroenterology, 2017)
Marina Iacovou
APD, BHSc, MNutrDiet
Advisory Board Member
Marina Iacovou is a senior research dietitian at Monash University, the institution that pioneered FODMAP research. She has played a central role in translating FODMAP science into practical clinical tools, including the Monash University FODMAP app. Her work focuses on improving the delivery and outcomes of FODMAP-based dietary interventions in clinical practice and ensuring that evidence-based dietary advice is accessible to patients worldwide.
Key contributor to Monash University FODMAP dietary protocol and clinical training programs
Dr. Sarah Kinsinger
PhD, ABPP
Advisory Board Member
Dr. Sarah Kinsinger is a board-certified clinical health psychologist specializing in gastrointestinal psychology at Loyola University Medical Center. She is an expert in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS and other functional GI disorders. Her research and clinical work focus on the psychological dimensions of digestive conditions and developing evidence-based behavioral interventions that address the gut-brain connection.
Pioneer in integrating CBT and gut-directed hypnotherapy into gastroenterology care
Research Foundation
Symbiota's approach is built on decades of research from leading institutions in gastroenterology and gut-brain science.
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
Gut-brain axis research, visceral pain mechanisms, and the role of the microbiome in brain-gut communication.
Monash University
Pioneering FODMAP research, the gold-standard dietary protocol for IBS management used worldwide.
University of Manchester
Gut-directed hypnotherapy clinical trials demonstrating 70-80% symptom improvement rates in IBS patients.
Our Evidence Standards
We hold ourselves to rigorous standards for every claim, protocol, and recommendation in Symbiota.
Peer-Reviewed Sources
Every clinical claim in Symbiota is backed by published, peer-reviewed research. We cite our sources and link to original studies.
Randomized Controlled Trials
Our core protocols — FODMAP elimination, gut-directed hypnotherapy, and CBT techniques — are grounded in evidence from RCTs, the gold standard of clinical research.
Ongoing Review
Our advisory board reviews new research quarterly. When evidence evolves, our content and protocols are updated to reflect the latest science.
Transparent Limitations
We clearly state what the evidence supports and where gaps remain. Symbiota never overstates clinical claims or positions itself as a replacement for medical care.
Dive Deeper Into Our Methodology
Explore detailed breakdowns of how we approach FODMAP protocols, AI safety, hypnotherapy evidence, and data privacy.
Explore Our MethodologyReady to Take Control of Your Gut Health?
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