Guillemin draws attention in American Cancer Society story

University of Oregon biologist Karen Guillemin was the go-to expert for a writer at the American Cancer Society when pursuing the significance of three recent studies involving gut bacteria and human diseases.

Two of the studies suggest that intestinal bacteria may increase the effectiveness of certain types of cancer treatments  and may well be "tied to everything from obesity to brain function."

In the story, "Certain Cancer Drugs May Need Gut Bacteria to Work," Guillemin, a researcher in the Institute of Molecular Biology, says that the takeaway from these studies for cancer patients is that they can be thinking about lifestyle changes that promote a healthy gut community. Her own research also was described in the story.