<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><item href="/news/2025/2025-08-decoding-the-second-brain.aspx" dsn="blogs"><homehero>true</homehero><categories>Discovery Science,Grant,Health Science and Innovation</categories><broadcast>physiology</broadcast><articlePreview/><pubDate>08/25/2025</pubDate><title>Decoding the second brain</title><subTitle>NIH support will help researchers uncover how gut cell conversations could unlock new treatments for digestive disorders</subTitle><description><p data-start="293" data-end="445">The gut has a brain of its own. MSU scientists are studying how its cells communicate, aiming to unlock therapies for conditions like IBS and IBD.</p>
<p data-start="449" data-end="623"> </p></description><highlights/><author>Stacy Kish</author><hero-image><img src="" alt=""/></hero-image><image><img src="/_assets/images/news/2024/2024-09-b-gulbransen.preview.png" alt="head and shoulders photo of Brian Gulbransen"/></image></item>