SCIENCE HUMANISED: EXPLORING THE GUT WITH JOSH WRAY.

Who is Josh?

Josh Wray is Global Medical Affairs Manager for Lower GI at Reckitt. He holds a master’s in chemistry with a focus on computational chemistry and nanotechnology, and began his journey with Reckitt as an undergraduate placement student.

Over seven years he’s moved from lab work on Gaviscon formulation to roles across brands like Air Wick and Strepsils before settling into Medical Affairs, progressing from Upper GI to his current focus on Lower GI.

Why the gut?

Josh’s interest began in the lab working on Gaviscon and a dissertation on alginate “raft” systems for reflux. A later master’s project on bacterial fermentation and fermented foods deepened his curiosity about gut biology, probiotics, and how the GI tract is often overlooked compared to heart and lungs in early education – ultimately turning interest into passion.

The gut–brain axis, simply explained

The brain and gut communicate via hormones and nerves, including the enteric nervous system, with the microbiome as a key player.
Everyone has felt it: butterflies when nervous, stomach drop on a roller coaster, or that post‑meal satisfaction!

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW BELOW:

A shift that matters: From “functional GI disorders” to DGBI

The field is moving from “functional GI disorders” to “Disorders of Gut–Brain Interaction” (DGBI).

Why it’s important: “Functional” implied “nothing’s wrong,” fuelling stigma. DGBI recognises measurable differences, like:

• Altered motility
• Mucosal and immune barrier changes
• Visceral hypersensitivity
• Altered nervous system processing

The exact mechanisms remain under study, but the reframing validates patient experience and guides better care.

Biomarkers: Promising, but not definitive yet

Today there’s no single validated biomarker for IBS or DGBI.

Areas to watch:

• Gut barrier integrity and permeability testing
• Tight junction proteins such as fecal zonulin, claudins, and occludins.

Challenges:

• Correlation exists, but clear causality to symptoms is still emerging
• Sampling limitations: stool tests often miss mucosa‑associated microbes or small‑intestine profile.

The future: Personalised microbiome‑based care

• Expect growth in probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics, and interest in psychobiotics for brain effects.
• Personalised solutions are likely in our lifetimes, but require robust collaboration between academia and industry, with careful clinical validation.

What’s next in diagnostics?

• The Rome Foundation is actively researching IBS mechanisms and updating criteria.
• Expected change: incorporating “bothersomeness” of symptoms, not just frequency and duration – aiming for more patient‑centred diagnosis.

Thank you for watching and for joining us on this deep dive into the gut–brain axis and the evolving science of DGBI. A huge thank you to Josh for a fascinating, candid conversation packed with insight. We’ll be back soon with another episode of Science Humanised… see you next time!

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Verve is a health communications agency with the belief that great scientific communication doesn’t just inform – it connects, inspires, and drives action. Science is more than just clinical data and research papers; it’s also about the people it impacts and the ideas that shape the world around us. 

 Our philosophy at Verve, Science, humanised, brings together the precision of science and the power of human connection. We blend data with empathy, translating complexity into communication that resonates. Whether we’re creating compelling healthcare narratives, simplifying scientific breakthroughs, or engaging audiences with thoughtful storytelling, our mission is the same: to bridge the gap between knowledge and understanding. 

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