Dr Emeran Mayer stands as a world-renowned neuroscientist and gastroenterologist whose pioneering research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of the critical connections between the brain and the gastrointestinal system. He currently serves as a Distinguished Research Professor in the Departments of Medicine, Physiology and Psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA where he directs the G Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience and co-directs the UCLA Specialized Center of Research Excellence on Sex Differences. Dr Mayer earned his MD PhD from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich Germany and completed his gastrointestinal fellowship training at the UCLA VA Wadsworth Training Program following residency at Vancouver General Hospital in Canada. His fascination with mind brain body interactions began during his undergraduate studies in Munich which led him to explore the physiological connections between psychological states and bodily functions across diverse cultural contexts including fieldwork with the Yanomami tribes in Venezuela and the Asmat people in Indonesia.
Dr Mayer's groundbreaking research program has illuminated the bidirectional communication pathways between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system revealing how psychological stress influences gastrointestinal function and how gut microbiota profoundly impact brain health and mental well being. His extensive scholarly contributions comprising over 430 scientific publications with an h index of 133 have established him as a global authority on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying visceral pain stress responses and brain gut microbiome interactions. He pioneered the application of functional brain imaging techniques to study central representations of visceral stimuli providing crucial insights into the neural processing of gut sensations in both healthy individuals and patients with chronic digestive disorders. His work has fundamentally reshaped clinical understanding of conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome fibromyalgia and inflammatory bowel diseases by demonstrating how gut microbiome composition influences mood cognitive function and pain perception.
Beyond his laboratory research Dr Mayer has significantly expanded the reach of brain gut science through his internationally bestselling book The Mind Gut Connection translated into twelve languages which has educated both medical professionals and the general public about this vital physiological relationship. He has further amplified his impact through documentary filmmaking including a PBS feature on the mind gut immune connection and the award winning In Search of Balance exploring healing traditions across cultures. As the founding director of the Goodman Luskin Microbiome Center at UCLA he continues to drive innovative interdisciplinary research that integrates neuroscience gastroenterology and microbiome science to develop novel therapeutic approaches for chronic digestive and mental health conditions. Dr Mayer's holistic vision for medicine which bridges Western scientific rigor with respect for ancient healing traditions positions him at the forefront of a paradigm shift toward more integrated patient centered care that acknowledges the profound interconnectedness of mind brain and body.
