The cell and organoid lab is a new facility for cell and organoid culturing and gut-on-a-chip experimentation.
Behavioural Hologenomics Group
The focus of the Behavioural Hologenomics Group is to investigating the intricate dynamics of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in both wild and model animals. Their research primarily centers on understanding how the interactions among animals, their associated microorganisms, and the environment collectively influence animal behavior. In line with our commitment to advancing research methodologies, we have recently initiated the integration of gut-on-a-chip technology into our studies.
Our research is focused on elucidating the intricate interplay among animal-microbiota-environment interactions and their profound influence on animal behavior, and its implication for animal ecology and evolution. We investigate these interactions in both wild and lab animals through the integration of multi'omic methods with behavioural profiling techniques including automatic tracking system, behavioural test, and ultrasound recordings. Simultaneously, we explore the translational potential of our findings in biomedicine, given the increasing recognition of the microbiota-gut-brain axis as a promising therapeutic target for addressing various behavioral disorders effectively. Recently, we have initiated the integration of gut-on-a-chip technology into our investigations to study host-microbiota interactions at the microscale and elucidate the microbial effects on animal evolution.
Link to all publications here.
Changes in community composition and functional diversity of European bats under climate change, Penelope C. Fialas et al., 2025, In: Conservation Biology. doi.org/10.1111/cobi.70025
Functional Insights Into the Effect of Feralisation on the Gut Microbiota of Cats Worldwide Ostaizka Aizpurua, Amanda Bolt Botnen, Raphael Eisenhofer, Iñaki Odriozola, Luisa Santos-Bay, Mads Bjørn Bjørnsen, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Antton Alberdi, 2025, In: Molecular Ecology Volume 34, Issue 6. doi.org/10.1111/mec.17695
A global initiative for ecological and evolutionary hologenomics Leonard, AoifeAbalos, Javier et al.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Volume 39, Issue 7, 616 - 620. doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2024.03.005
Unravelling animal–microbiota evolution on a chip Aizpurua Arrieta, Ostaizka, Blijleven, Kees, Trivedi, Urvish, Gilbert, M Thomas P & Alberdi, Antton, 2023, In: Trends in Microbiology. 31, 10, p. 995-1002 8 p. doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2023.04.010
Field and laboratory guidelines for reliable bioinformatic and statistical analysis of bacterial shotgun metagenomic data Aizpurua Arrieta, Ostaizka, Dunn, Rob, Hansen, Lars Hestbjerg, Gilbert, M Thomas P & Alberdi, Antton, 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Critical Reviews in Biotechnology. doi.org/10.1080/07388551.2023.2254933
Funded by
the Carlsberg Foundation's Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship
the Villum Foundation
Invited talks
- Danish Veterinary Association (Den Danske Dyrlægeforening) annual meeting, Copenhagen, 2025
- Applied Hologenomics conference, Copenhagen, 2024
- 7th Animal Model Workshop at UCPH, 2024
- Pharmabiotics conference, Lille, France, 2024
Prizes/awards
2024 – 2027
EU Training Network (open call, European Commission). Co-PI
2023 – 2025
Villum Experiment (open call, Villum Foundation, DK). PI
Facilities
Explainer video about Ostaizka's organ-on-a-chip research
Group members
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa Margaret Krook Brenner | PhD Marie Curie | ||
| Michael Gerard Miskelly | Postdoc | +4535321376 |
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mireya Arratibel | Guest Student |