Vartika Sharma is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she investigates how tiny molecular events inside cells shape the health of an entire organism. In this Postdoc Portrait interview, she shares how her work focuses on the emerging concept of inter-organ communication—specifically how the gut influences distant organs like the brain during the aging process.
The Language of Cellular Conversation
Q | What drew you to the gut-brain axis?
My fascination with biology began with a simple question: How do tiny molecular events inside cells shape the health of an entire organism? During my early training, I became particularly intrigued by how cells communicate through signaling pathways to coordinate complex processes such as development, immunity, and aging. What captivated me most was the idea that a small molecular change can have far-reaching effects across tissues and even throughout the entire body.
Working with model organisms like the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster deepened this curiosity. The elegance of this system lies in its simplicity; despite its small size, it shares many conserved biological pathways with humans, allowing us to uncover fundamental mechanisms that govern life.
Over time, my interests naturally gravitated toward aging biology and inter-organ communication. I became especially fascinated by the emerging concept that the gut can influence distant organs, including the brain. Understanding how intestinal health shapes brain aging felt like exploring an unseen biological conversation, and uncovering the language of that dialogue is what continues to draw me to this field.
Q | What scientific problem are you trying to solve?
Aging is often studied organ by organ, yet the body functions as a deeply interconnected system. One question that drives my research is how changes in one tissue can ripple across the body to influence the health of another, particularly how the gut affects the brain during aging.
In my current work, I investigate how intestinal barrier dysfunction contributes to brain aging. The intestine serves as a critical gatekeeper, carefully regulating what enters the body while preventing harmful microbes and inflammatory molecules from leaking into circulation. However, as organisms age, this barrier can become compromised, allowing signals of stress and inflammation to spread systemically.
Using D. melanogaster as a model organism, I study how the breakdown of this intestinal barrier triggers molecular pathways that ultimately impact brain health. My goal is to understand the biological mechanisms linking gut dysfunction to neural decline. By uncovering these cross-organ communication networks, this research may reveal new ways to preserve brain health by maintaining intestinal integrity during aging.
The Surprising Connections Across Tissues
Q | What’s one thing you learned from your research that you didn’t expect?
One of the most surprising lessons from my research on aging is the profound interconnection between organs. I initially thought brain aging was mostly driven by processes within the brain, but I found that events in distant tissues, especially the gut, can strongly influence neural health. Age-related changes in the intestinal barrier allow inflammatory signals and microbial products to spread, impacting the brain. This insight has shifted my perspective, highlighting that aging is shaped by a dynamic dialogue between tissues, opening new directions for study.
Q | If your research succeeds, what could it change for science or society?
This work could reveal how gut health influences brain aging, highlighting the role of inter-organ communication in aging. These insights may guide new strategies to promote healthier aging and prevent neurodegeneration.
Q | What question are you most excited to answer next?
I’m excited to uncover how an aging gut communicates with the brain, through inflammatory signals, microbes, or unknown messengers, and to map the pathways that carry these messages. Understanding this gut-brain dialogue could guide future strategies to protect brain health and open new questions about how inter-organ communication shapes aging.
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Are you a researcher who would like to be featured in the “Postdoc Portraits” series? Send in your application here.
