GUT MICROBIOME AND GASTROINTESTINAL DYSFUNCTION IN PEOPLE WITH AUTISM
Vic Lin, Final Year PhD Candidate,
Gut-Brain Axis Laboratory, RMIT University
Melbourne, Australia
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Melbourne, Australia | September 2026
Vic Lin is a final-year PhD student in the Gut-Brain Axis Laboratory at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. His research focuses on understanding the gastrointestinal dysfunction commonly experienced by people with autism and exploring the connection between the gut microbiome and gastrointestinal function.
Vic completed his bachelor’s degree with honours at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health before starting his PhD at RMIT University.
His PhD investigates how metabolites produced by the gut microbiome may influence gastrointestinal physiology in autism. Using a mouse model of autism, Vic examines key aspects of gut function, including intestinal permeability and gut motility, and investigates whether these changes can be improved using a treatment designed to target potentially harmful microbial metabolites.
His research has been presented at conferences across Australia, including the Australasian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association and the Australasian Society for Autonomic Neuroscience in 2025.
Through his work, Vic aims to further the understanding of the gut-microbiome connection in autism and contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for gastrointestinal dysfunction to improve outcomes for people with autism.
Source: Supplied
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1263-7339
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Paramedics in the Community
Dr Brendan Shannon is a registered paramedic and Head of Postgraduate Programs and Deputy Head of Department of Paramedicine at Monash University.
Brendan has a keen research interest in alternative care pathways, non-transport, referral services, paramedic practitioners and community paramedicine. His Doctoral research focused on investigating the experiences of health services when implementing alternative care pathways.
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Blister management and impact on firefighters
David Burns, a Senior Paramedic with LifeAid, a private paramedicine company in Victoria and, has a diverse background in healthcare. He began his career as a registered nurse, progressing to critical care nursing specialising in liver transplants and cardiovascular surgery.
At the Australasian College of Paramedicine International Conference, David presented research focused on the foot care of firefighters during prolonged bushfire campaigns. During the 2019-2020 bushfires, over 10,000 firefighters sought care, with nearly 50% requiring attention for foot-related issues. David emphasised that inadequate foot care could bench firefighters for up to 10 days, diminishing their ability to protect communities and critical infrastructure. Recognising the economic benefits of prioritising firefighter health, David advocates that ensuring their well-being allows communities to recover effectively and enhances safety for all involved in firefighting efforts.
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Food and fasting periods as medicine to prevent disease
Professor Leonie Heilbronn is based at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), where she leads the Obesity and Metabolism laboratory. Her research is at the interface between basic and clinical science. She is internationally recognised for her work in nutritional modulation in humans and has made major contributions to our current understanding of mechanisms underlying conditions such as insulin resistance, particularly inflammation and lipid metabolism. She has also contributed significantly to current concepts of caloric restriction (CR), intermittent fasting (IF) and time restricted eating (TRE) in humans. She has published more than 110 peer reviewed papers in scientific journals and is an Associate Editor of Obesity, and Obesity Research and Clinical Practice.
