The Role of Microbiome in Immunity
The Role of Microbiome in Immunity from PLMI on Vimeo.
There is virtually no topic that has been more in the medical and general health consumer news recently than the discussion of the microbiome and the diversity of impacts it has on human health. The effects have ranged from obesity to diabetes to dementia, heart disease, arthritis, and cancer. It is presently the topic of greatest clinical focus due to the fact that the composition of the microbiome is modifiable through diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposures.
The impact of the microbiome on an individual’s metabolism has been demonstrated to occur through the interaction of the specific species of organisms that make up the microbiome with the individual’s nervous and immune systems. Each individual has been found to have a unique microbiome and therefore individualized relationship among their microbiome and their nervous and immune systems. The understanding of this unique relationship between the microbiome and the individual’s immune system coupled with the recognition that the individual’s diet, lifestyle, and environment can influence the function of their immune system results in the increasing importance of personalized lifestyle medicine.
This program will focus on providing a new understanding of the concepts of dysbiosis, endotoxicity, leaky gut and immune dysfunction related to the interaction of the intestinal microbiome with the gastrointestinal-associated immune system. Both advances in assessing the impact of the intestinal microbiome on immune function, and the delivery of personalized care will be provided by faculty members Dr. Michael Chapman and Dr. Alenda Pribyl. This conference will provides important “news to use” in managing clinical issues that emerge from the interaction of the intestinal microbiome with the gastrointestinal immune and enteric nervous systems.
Speakers
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Jeff Bland, PhDJeffrey Bland, PhD, is a pioneering figure in the food-is-medicine movement and a leading expert in nutritional biochemistry. As founder of Big Bold Health, he now focuses on longevity through immune health, championing the concept of immune rejuvenation as a pathway to healthy aging. Dr. Bland’s work highlights the powerful role of plant polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids in supporting immune resilience. Widely known as the “father of Functional Medicine,” he has spent more than 40 years advancing nutrition science, regenerative agriculture, and personalized approaches to lifelong vitality.
Dr. Bland began his career in academia as a university professor. In the early 1980s, he became a protégé of two-time Nobel Laureate, Dr. Linus Pauling. Dr. Bland then spent decades as a natural products industry insider and entrepreneur, while also serving as a scientific advisor and mentor to dynamic founders and leading brands.
A lifelong educator, Dr. Bland has traveled the world many times over as a renowned speaker. In 1991, he and his wife, Susan, founded The Institute for Functional Medicine. In 2012, they established another educational nonprofit called The Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute, which brings together researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to focus on new models of healthcare delivery, advancements in medical nutrition therapy, and exciting emerging science.
Dr. Bland is the author of The Disease Delusion: Conquering the Causes of Chronic Illness for a Healthier, Longer, and Happier Life, as well as additional books and many research papers. His next book will be published by HarperCollins in March 2027. The Nourished Gene: Rejuvenate Your Immunity, Reverse Chronic Symptoms, and Activate Your Longevity is now available for pre-order from all major booksellers.
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Alena Pribyl, PhDAlena Pribyl, PhD
Dr Alena Pribyl is a senior scientist at Microba Life Sciences, a microbial genomics company based in Brisbane, Australia that provides precision analysis of the gut microbiome. Alena has a PhD in fish physiology where she investigated physiological and molecular biomarkers of stress. After completing postdocs in the US, she moved to Australia in 2015 and worked for the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics (ACE) at the University of Queensland where she shifted focus to the human gut microbiome. She was a founding team member of Microba Life Sciences in 2018 and now leads the Science Team.
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Michael Chapman, NDDr. Michael Chapman has a doctorate in naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Chapman is currently the Director of Product Innovation at Genova Diagnostics. Aside from educating and consulting with integrative and functional medicine practitioners, he is responsible for researching and developing new test profiles. In addition, he has delivered presentations nationwide at functional and integrative medicine conferences.
Dr. Chapman is a writer and contributor to the latest edition of The Textbook of Natural Medicine by Joe Pizzorno & Michael Murray, authoring chapters on urinary organic acid testing and urinary porphyrin analysis. Also, he is cohost of the Genova Diagnostics podcast titled The Lab Report.
