ALL ABOUT ME 

Hello there! I'm Dr Miguel. A scientist, yes, but also a firm believer that science is a form of creative expression. For over two decades, I've blended neuroscience, applied microbiology, and human nutrition into a unified tapestry, all while infusing my work with a sense of artistry and compassion. My purpose in life, like yours, is to create, and my medium is crafting knowledge with both rigour and creativity.

At the core of my work is the complex interplay between the gut microbiome and our emotional and mental wellbeing. My approach is both evidence-based and uniquely tailored. As a queer neurodivergent person, I've invested years in disentangling the facets of my identity that were initially formed to shield me from prejudice and emotional harm. This personal journey deeply influences my professional lens, offering a unique, intersectional perspective that goes beyond textbooks and comes to life in the lab and the clinic.

Perhaps you can relate. Perhaps you've spent your life feeling like an alien in a world that just can't understand you. I've been there too. In fact, this feeling became so powerful that in October 2023, I made the life-altering decision to leave a lucrative career in research and development to focus entirely on helping people who share similar lived experiences. Whether you have a diagnosis or simply suspect that you're neurodivergent, I’m dedicating myself to illuminating a path that can make your life better.

So, when I say I am uniquely qualified to guide you on this journey, I truly mean it. You’re not just encountering a scientist; you’re meeting a blend of rigorous, evidence-based inquiry, compassionate understanding, and a sprinkle of creative flair, all forged from the depths of both personal and professional experience. I can't wait to share this enriching journey with you.

On this page, you’ll get to know about my professional journey. You’ll also find my qualifications, academic affiliations, publications, and other editorial and advisory positions. For further details, please visit my LinkedIn profile, my ORCID page or my ResearchGate profile.

MY PROFESSIONAL

JOURNEY

Gut Microbiome

I started working with gut microbiome data nearly 20 years ago, so I've been on an incredible journey through the mesmerising world of the gut microbiome since “before it was trendy” and have been fortunate enough to be immersed in clinical, research and product development aspects of the gut microbiome and its relationship with mental wellbeing. As a co-founder of "MapMyGut" (the prequel to the Zoe test and app) back in 2014-15 and the former Director of Research and Development for Atlas Biomed, a leading biotechnology company in the direct-to-consumer microbiome testing world, I've had the rare opportunity to collaborate with esteemed institutions like the University of Cambridge. I have been a member of gut microbiome and mental health research teams at London South Bank University and Cardiff University, where my days have been filled with groundbreaking research, clinical trials, and crafting innovative product ranges, all backed by cutting-edge science. I've even had the honour of sharing my insights at conferences globally, and, you know, I often attribute my knack for creative problem-solving to my neurodivergent nature. I believe that we can unlock the secrets of human health by delving deep into the rich tapestry of microbes within us.

Nutrition

Nutrition is my language, a beautiful, complex dialect that harmonises science with the essence of human life. I took my first steps in this field in student clinics back in 2004, so I’ve been working with people living with gut health issues for the last 20 years. Fast forward to today, and I'm lecturing to aspiring university students in nutrition and food science and technology. With a postgraduate degree in nutritional medicine, I've empowered thousands over two enriching decades to embrace healthier living. But my expertise extends well beyond the lecture hall and clinic. My journey has led me through diverse sectors, from one-to-one clinical practice to bespoke programmes for executive boards and workshops on nourishing the gut-brain axis for optimum mental resilience at Lloyd's Bank and NatWest. I am also part of research groups exploring the complex interactions between the gut microbiome, ADHD, and mental health, specifically looking at the impact of food and lifestyle choices on the brains of neurodivergent individuals. Rest assured, the relationship between what we consume, our digestive system and our mental state is profound, and I'm committed to helping you unravel this intricate connection.

Mental Health

Mental health isn't just another area of focus for me; it's a personal calling. For six years, I worked hands-on with individuals facing mental health and addiction issues, ranging from humble to high-profile individuals. This, combined with my own mental health issues, has helped me realise that human experience is universal; we all feel pain and share the potential for immense growth. My educational background, including a master’s degree in clinical neuroscience and a doctorate focused on the gut microbiome's impact on mental health and neurodivergence, equips me uniquely to explore this multidimensional landscape. Whether in multi-disciplinary psychiatry teams or individual sessions, my aim has always been the same: To shine a light on the path to better mental wellbeing for all. Being neurodivergent has not only provided me with a distinct lens through which to view the world but has also enriched my professional interactions. My lived experiences equip me with a deep sense of empathy, compassion, and understanding as core values that I bring into all my professional engagements.

Research & Development

The day I graduated with my nutritional medicine degree, I decided to leave my job in medical publishing and embark on my new career in nutrition. My first project was to reformulate a line of food supplements for a food-based nutritional supplement manufacturer. That was back in 2009. Since then, I have completed similar projects for a range of companies, from tiny to global. Some of the products I’m proud to have formulated include the whole launch line for Motion Nutrition, followed by their award-winning nootropics line “Unplug”, “Power Up,” and “Balance.” More recently, I formulated two new product lines three innovative functional botanical vinegars which were tested to inhibit pathogenic gut bacteria (in vitro), and another one featuring three synbiotic powders based on a combination of prebiotics (galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and a unique combination of probiotic strains to support the gut-brain axis, the immune system, and cardiometabolic function.

For full details of my professional background and my qualifications, please visit my LinkedIn profile.

Career

QUALIFICATIONS, PUBLICATIONS + ACADEMIC ROLES

  • Doctorate of Professional Studies (DProf): Gut Microbiome & Mental Health. School of Health and Education, Middlesex University, 2021. My doctorate was a combination of academic, clinical and and industry-based research, summarised my thesis “Guts, Brains, Complexity and Creativity: Immersive Living and Learning Through the Critical Lens of First-Person Inquiry.” Recipient of the prestigious Santander Universities Award in 2016 for my research project. This funded the first 2 years of my doctoral degree.

    Masters of Science (MSc) in Clinical Neuroscience. Roehampton University, 2016. The focus of my studies was neuroprotection in the ageing brain. Awarded distinction on my lab-based research project “Investigating the Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Plus NADH, Ascorbic Acid and L-Serine on Cellular Metabolism and Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response Transcription Factor Activation in Murine Neural Stem Cells.”

    Two-year Fellowship in Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine. The Metabolic & Medical Institute (USA), 2013.

    Bachelor of Science (with Honours) in Nutritional Medicine. The University of West London, 2010. Awarded distinction on my honours research project: “An Evidence-Based Review of the Effectiveness of Nutritional Interventions in Cardiovascular Disease Based on the Expression of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers.”

    Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Medicine. The University of West London, 2009.

    Accredited Yoga Teacher. British Wheel of Yoga, London, 2006. It made me see life from another angle.

    Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Decision Making (Sustainability). The Open University, 2003.

    Masters of Science (MSc) in International Business. London South Bank University, 2000.

    For further details on my educational background, please visit my LinkedIn profile.

  • Visiting Research Fellow, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University. 

    Honorary Research Fellow, School of Psychology, Cardiff University. 

    The research areas I am involved in include:  

    • Microbial signatures in neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism.

    • Food-gut-microbiota-mood interactions in positive versus pathological mental health states.

    • Relationships between food, mood and gut microbiota in the workplace.

    • Changes to the microbiome in neurodegenerative conditions, e.g. Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

    • Person-centred neurosciences with a focus on first-person experiences of people living with neurological conditions.

    • The microbiota-gut-brain axis, emotional health and complex trauma.

    • Lawrence K, Myrissa K, Toribio-Mateas M, Minini L, Gregory AM. (2023) Randomised controlled trial of the effects of kefir on behaviour, sleep and the microbiome in children with ADHD: a study protocol. BMJ Open 13, article number: e071063. 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071063 PMID: 38149413 PMCID: PMC10711914

    • Toribio-Mateas, M. and Smith, A. 2023. A synbiotic intervention to improve well-being at work.. World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research 12(21), pp. 36-54. 10.20959/wjpr202321-30385

    • Lachmansingh DA, Toribio-Mateas M, O’Riordan K, Lavelle A, Cryan JF, Clarke G. (2023) Mood, Food, and the Microbiome. Neurodigest. Nov 1

    • Lawrence K, Myrissa K, Toribio-Mateas M, Minini L, Gregory AM. (2022) Trialling a microbiome-targeted dietary intervention in children with ADHD - the rationale and a non-randomised feasibility study. Pilot Feasibility Stud. May 23;8(1):108. doi: 10.1186/s40814-022-01058-4. PMID: 35606889; PMCID: PMC9125862.

    • Shevlyakov A, Nikogosov D, Stewart LA, Toribio-Mateas M. (2021) Reference values for intake of six types of soluble and insoluble fibre in healthy UK inhabitants based on the UK Biobank data. Public Health Nutr. Jun 9;25(5):1-15. doi: 10.1017/S1368980021002524. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34105446; PMCID: PMC9993053.

    • Toribio-Mateas MA, Bester A, Klimenko N. (2021) Impact of Plant-Based Meat Alternatives on the Gut Microbiota of Consumers: A Real-World Study. Foods. Aug 30;10(9):2040. doi: 10.3390/foods10092040. PMID: 34574149; PMCID: PMC8465665.

    • Toribio-Mateas, M., & Bester, A. (2020) Diet and the microbiome in precision medicine In: Faintuch, J & Faintuch, S. (eds) Precision Medicine for Investigators, Practitioners and Providers, 445-452. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819178-1.00043-5.

    • Toribio-Mateas, MA (2020) “Becoming a Professional Opinion Leader” in “Case studies of 11 participants”. In: Loo, S., & Sutton, B. (Eds.). Informal Learning, Practitioner Inquiry and Occupational Education: An Epistemological Perspective (1st ed.). Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003019473.

    • Toribio-Mateas, M. (2020) Cognitive Health through Gut–Brain Communication. In: Walker, A. (ed.) Case Studies in Personalized Nutrition. Singing Dragon, 178-214. Part of ISBN: 978-1-84819-394-9.

    • Toribio-Mateas, M. & Walker, A. (2020) The Evidence Base in Personalized Nutrition. In: Walker, A. (ed.) Case Studies in Personalized Nutrition. Singing Dragon, 21-37. Part of ISBN: 978-1-84819-394-9.

    • Bester, A., Toribio-Mateas, M., Mileva, K. & Gaoua, N. (2018) Integrated multi-omics of the gut microbiome: assessing the beneficial effects of fermented foods to human health. Exploring Human Host-Microbiome Interactions in Health and Disease. Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.10244.58246.

    • Toribio-Mateas, M. (2019) Neuroprotection, Aging, and the Gut–Brain Axis - Translating Traditional Wisdom from the Mediterranean Diet into Evidence-Based Clinical Applications. In: Bakhru, A. (ed.) Nutrition and Integrative Medicine, A Primer for Clinicians. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 177-196. doi: 10.1201/9781315153155-6.

    • Toribio-Mateas M. (2018) Harnessing the Power of Microbiome Assessment Tools as Part of Neuroprotective Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Interventions. Microorganisms. Apr 25;6(2):35. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms6020035. PMID: 29693607; PMCID: PMC6027349.

    • Toribio-Mateas MA, Spector TD. (2017) Could food act as personalized medicine for chronic disease? Per Med. 2017 May;14(3):193-196. doi: 10.2217/pme-2016-0017. Epub 2017 May 5. PMID: 29767588.

    • Ruxton, C. H., Derbyshire, E. & Toribio-Mateas, M. (2016) Role of fatty acids and micronutrients in healthy ageing: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials set in the context of European dietary surveys of older adults. J Hum Nutr Diet, 29, 308-324. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12335.

    You can find all my publications on my ORCID page and on my ResearchGate profile.

  • Guest Editor of the Special Issue on “Person-Centred Care in the Neurosciences” in Health Expectations (Wiley). Open for submission until 30 September 2023.

    Member of the Scientific Committee, Probiota Event 2020-2024.

    NutraIngredients Awards Judges Panel 2020-2023

    Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board, Chuckling Goat (until October 2023)

    Reviewer Board member for Brain Sciences, Microorganisms and BMJ Open.

    Editorial Board member for NeuroDigest and the Nutritional Medicine Journal.

  • Purposeful living for me is deeply tied to community engagement. I serve on the Steering Committee of the Person-Centred Neurosciences Society (P-CNS). This role allows me to merge clinical know-how with lived experiences, advocating for high-quality, individualised care for those with suspected or confirmed neurological conditions.

    In addition, I contribute my expertise to the You Are Not Alone (YANA) youth mental health programme at the Body & Soul Charity, which specifically addresses the pressing issue of suicide attempts among 16-30-year-olds through dialectical behavioural therapy.

MY PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Credentials

READ MY LATEST RESEARCH PAPERS

Randomised Controlled Trial of the Effects of Kefir on Behaviour, Sleep and the Microbiome in Children with ADHD: a Study Protocol

British Medical Journal (BMJ Open), December 2023

Here’s the updated research and clinical protocol based on the findings from our previous study, “Trialling a Microbiome-Targeted Dietary Intervention in Children with ADHD: The Rationale and a Non-Randomised Feasibility Study,” published in the journal Pilot and Feasibility Studies in May 2022. There’s a summary further down this page.

This groundbreaking clinical trial investigates the effects of kefir, a probiotic Lactobacillus-rich fermented milk drink, on children with ADHD. It’s been conducted over six weeks, involving ADHD-diagnosed children aged 8-13 years across the UK. Participants were assigned to either a kefir-supplemented group or a placebo group. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of kefir on ADHD behaviour, sleep patterns, gut microbiota, inattention, and impulsivity. The results of the pilot study indicated that regular kefir consumption might have beneficial effects on managing ADHD symptoms, improving sleep quality, and positively altering gut microbiota composition. This innovative piece of clinical research highlights the potential of dietary interventions in ADHD management and opens new avenues for exploring the gut-brain connection in neurodevelopmental conditions. The trial’s results will be published LATER in 2024.

Research

A Synbiotic Intervention to Improve Well-Being At Work

World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, December 2023

This study sheds light on the potential benefits of synbiotics, a combination of probiotics and prebiotics, on workplace wellbeing. In this first-of-its-kind investigation, 14 participants from a London-based charity were given a synbiotic drink made of kefir and a prebiotic mixture for a period of six weeks. The results were promising: participants experienced significant improvements in several aspects of wellbeing. They reported feeling less sleepy during the day, more engaged and immersed in their work, and an increase in overall life satisfaction, along with an experience of “flourishing.” These findings are encouraging, but they also underscore the need for further research to fully understand the mechanisms behind these effects and the role of the gut microbiome in this process​​.

Mood, Food, and the Microbiome

The Signs of Depression:

Current Treatment and Limitations

NeuroDigest, November 2023

The article - co-written with neurobiologists and psychiatrists from University College Cork - explores the impact of diet on mental health and the gut microbiome, focusing on how dietary fibre influences stress, depression, and anxiety through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. It highlights research on nutrition's role in mental health, particularly in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Trialling a Microbiome-Targeted Dietary Intervention in Children with ADHD

The Rationale and a Non-Randomised Feasibility Study

Pilot and Feasibility Studies, May 2022

The study focuses on assessing the feasibility of a microbiome-targeted dietary intervention for children with ADHD. It involved nine non-medicated children, aged 8-13, who underwent a 6-week dietary program aimed at altering gut bacteria composition. Despite challenges in recruitment, the completion rate was 100%. The intervention showed good adherence and acceptability among participants, with two mild adverse events reported. The study suggests that future research could further explore the relationship between gut microbiota, ADHD symptoms, and sleep and recommends simplifying dietary approaches in larger trials for better participant recruitment.

The updated protocol, including children off and on ADHD medication, e.g. methylphenidate, is due to be published in the British Medical Journal (Open) in December 2023.