Welcome to the Mangalam Lab
The major goal of my research is to develop better treatment options to cure multiple sclerosis (MS). To achieve this goal, my research program focuses on three major interconnected themes:
- To understand the role of gut microbiome and metabolome in the etiopathogenesis of MS;
- Test therapeutic efficacy of human gut derived bacteria as drug (BRUG) in animal models of MS; and
- Utilize transgenic mice expressing MS susceptible and resistant HLA class II molecules (HLA transgenic mice) to understand the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis.
Ashutosh Mangalam, PhD
Title/Position
Associate Professor
Lab Members in the News
Rachel Fitzjerrells Wins First Place in Oral Presentations at the Iowa Section of the AADOCR
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Rachel Fitzjerrells, a Bioinformatics and Computational Biology PhD student in the Mangalam Lab, won the prestigious Max Smith Oral Presentation Award at the 71st Iowa Section AADOCR on February 13th, 2024.
Stephanie Peterson successfully defends and publishes her Ph.D. Thesis
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Stephanie Peterson successfully defended her PhD thesis in early October and completed the Immunology PhD program.
Peter Lehman successfully defends and publishes his M.S. Thesis
Friday, July 28, 2023
Peter Lehman successfully defended his M.S. thesis this past June and completed the Pathology M.S. program. Peter’s thesis is entitled Effect of Gut Microbiota Modulation During Early-life and Adulthood on Host Immunity. He performed his thesis work in the laboratory of Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam where he examined the effects of gut microbiome disruption on immune function.
Lab Research in the News
Mangalam Lab’s research uncovering a key link between gut microbiota and multiple sclerosis (MS) is featured in The Conversation U.S.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
A recent article in The Conversation U.S. highlights cutting-edge research from the Mangalam Lab in the Department of Pathology at the University of Iowa, based on their newly published study in PNAS. The study uncovers a key link between gut microbiota and multiple sclerosis (MS), identifying a specific bacterial ratio that may act as a biomarker for the disease and help predict its severity.
Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam Featured on National MS Society’s Ask an MS Expert: Gut Health and MS
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam, Associate Professor in the department of Pathology, was a featured guest on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Ask an MS Expert program. In this insightful episode on Gut Health and MS, Dr. Mangalam discussed the intriguing connection between gut health and multiple sclerosis (MS) with host Jon Strum, who also leads the popular RealTalk MS podcast.
Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam receives a new Merit Award from the Department of Veteran Affairs
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Dr. Ashutosh Mangalam received a four-year VA Merit Award entitled “Role of HLA Class-II Polymorphism in the Regulation of Host-Microbiota Symbiosis”.