Rebecca Wall

Rebecca Wall is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, where she has been employed since joining as a research associate in July 2014. She is affiliated with the Department of Medical Sciences and contributes significantly to both research and teaching within the Medical Programme.

Dr. Wall's educational background includes:

• PhD in Microbiology from University College Cork, Ireland (2008)
• Master's Degree in Chemistry from the University of Kalmar, Sweden (2003)

Her research primarily focuses on the intricate relationship between diet, gut microbiota, and host health. Dr. Wall specializes in studying how dietary fibers modulate the microbiota and influence host health and disease, with particular emphasis on butyrate - a microbial metabolite produced from bacterial fermentation of undigested dietary fibers in the large intestine. Her work explores butyrate's mode of action in the human colon and its importance for colonic health, particularly in relation to inflammatory bowel diseases such as IBD and IBS. Through her leadership of the Nutrition-Gut-Brain Interactions Research Centre (NGBI) and Responsive Nutrition Research Centre, she investigates the complex gut-brain axis and how microbial metabolites affect host physiology.

Analysis of Dr. Wall's publication record reveals a consistent research trajectory centered on gut microbiome interactions, with increasing focus on the gut-brain axis in recent years. Her work spans from basic microbial ecology to clinical applications, with strong translational potential in treating metabolic and inflammatory disorders. The interdisciplinary nature of her research is evident in publications spanning microbiology, nutrition, gastroenterology, neuroscience, and systems biology.

Dr. Wall serves as principal investigator for multiple successful research grants from prestigious funding bodies including The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet and Formas) and The European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes. She has established extensive national and international collaborations, with strong partnerships bridging academia and industry to advance translational research in gut microbiome science.

Within the educational framework, Dr. Wall is co-responsible for coordinating the "nutrition, metabolism and elimination" (NME) theme area during semesters 1, 2, 5 and 8 of the Medical Programme, and serves as course coordinator and examiner for the Independent Project (15 higher education credits) during semester 6. Her teaching integrates cutting-edge research findings with medical education to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how gut microbiome research informs clinical practice.

Dr. Wall leads several active research projects including "Effect of serotonergic stimulation on the gut-brain axis in irritable bowel syndrome patients," "Effects of dietary fiber supplementation on intestinal barrier function," and "Identification of dietary fibers that promote butyrate production." Her lab is part of the Nutrition-Gut-Brain Interactions Research Centre, Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism group, and The Ageing Gut (TAG) research team, creating a multidisciplinary environment for investigating the complex interactions between diet, microbiota, and host physiology across the lifespan.