Smout A.J.P.M.: Clinical Neurogastroenterology and Motility

  • Herregods, Thomas (Internal PhD candidate)
  • van Hoeij, Froukje (Internal PhD candidate)
  • Ponds, Fraukje (Internal PhD candidate)
  • Warners, Marijn (Internal PhD candidate)
  • Smout, Andreas (Principal investigator)
  • Bredenoord, Albert (Staff)
  • Bogte, Auke (External PhD candidate)

Project Details

Description

Contractions and tone of the muscle in the wall of the digestive canal (from mouth to anus), constantly contribute to the complex functions of the canal. The regulation of these complex motor acitivities is partly hormonal, but largely neuronal. A dense neuronal network in the wall of the alimentary tract acts in conjuction with extrinsic autonomic nerves and the central nervous system. In a large proportion of patients who present with symptoms suggestive of malfunctioning of the digestive tract, motor abnormalities appear to be the cause of the symptoms. In addition, increased perception of stimuli from the gastrointestinal canal plays an important role in the genesis of symptoms, with abnormal functioning of receptors and the intrinsic neuronal plexuses in the gut wall, the neuronal pathways to the brain and the central nervous system.

The research programme Clinical Neurogastroenterology and Motility aims to provide better understanding of gastrointestinal motor disorders and to improve diagnostic techniques and therapy. The focus is on disorders of the proximal part of the digestive tract, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, oesophageal motor disorders and functional dyspepsia.
StatusActive
Effective start/end date1/01/2011 → …