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Novel Approaches to Behavioral Health Innovation: Old Friends and Mental Health: Role of the Co-Evolved Micro-Organisms in Stress Resilience-Enduring
Evidence suggests that chronic low-grade inflammation is a risk factor for stress-related psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A number of studies demonstrate, for example, that biomarkers of baseline inflammation in active military personnel, prior to deployment, predict risk of development of PTSD subsequent to deployment. In addition, persons with PTSD have increases in plasma concentrations of biomarkers of “leaky gut”, such as lipopolysaccharide, a component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP). At the same time, persons with PTSD have decreased numbers and function of regulatory T cells (Treg) and a higher risk of developing future autoimmune disorders, which overall suggests an impaired capacity to regulate inappropriate inflammation. Here we consider the hypothesis that increased inflammation in persons living in modern urban environments is due in part to a failure of immunoregulation, i.e., a failure to maintain a balanced expression of regulatory and effector T cells, a process that is dependent on microbial signals. In this talk, I will highlight preclinical studies showing that treatment with bacterial “Old Friends”, i.e., bacteria with which humans coevolved that have the capacity to induce anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory responses, can prevent stress-induced exaggeration of inflammation, neuroinflammation, and microglial priming, as well as promote stress resilience. I will also highlight ongoing Phase 1 and Phase 2b clinical trials to evaluate the effects of bacteria with anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties in United States Veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD.
Elements of Competence
This educational activity is designed to change learner competence and focuses on the following competency areas:
- The American Board of Medical Specialties: Patient care and procedural skills, Medical knowledge
- Nursing: Employ evidence-based practice
- Center for the Advancement or Pharmacy Education: Health and wellness, Interprofessional collaboration, Learner, Patient-centered care
- Pharmacy Technician Certification Board: Pharmacology
- Interprofessional Education Collaborative: Interprofessional Communication
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Engage in self-reflection, Value diversity in the clinical encounter
Intended Audience
This activity is designed for Psychologists, Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians, Physicians, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Social Workers, and other behavioral health clinicians.
Learning Objectives
As a result of participation in this educational series, members of the healthcare team will be able to:
- Define three categories of "Old Friends" and provide examples
- Define immunoregulation and the importance of appropriate immunoregulation in stress-related psychiatric disorders
- Explain the role of regulatory T cells in specific and bystander suppression of inflammation.
This is a virtual event. The webinar link is available in the course, and will also be emailed to you prior to the event.
Christopher A. Lowry, Ph.D. is Professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Neuroscience, and Center for Microbial Exploration at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), with a secondary appointment in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, a Principal Investigator in the Department of Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System, VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, & Clinical Center (MIRECC), director of the Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Laboratory at CU Boulder, and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Military and Veteran Microbiome Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE). He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Wyoming where he received training in comparative endocrinology. Dr. Lowry was a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, United Kingdom from 2002-2006. Dr. Lowry’s research program at CU Boulder focuses on understanding stress-related physiology and behavior with an emphasis on the microbiome-gut-brain axis, a program designed to lead to novel, microbiome-based interventions for the prevention of anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dr. Lowry has been a principal investigator on 6 NIH grants, and numerous foundation and industry-sponsored projects. His research accomplishments have been recognized through many awards, including recognition by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation for Top 10 Advancements & Breakthroughs by Foundation Grantees in 2016. He is a Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of one CU Boulder startup biotech company. Importantly, Dr. Lowry has mentored numerous undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows who have gone on to successful independent careers in academia, industry, and medicine. Christopher Lowry Lab
Policy on Faculty and Sponsor Disclosure
It is the policy of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (ICEP) to identify, mitigate and disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies* held by the speakers/presenters, authors, committee members, planners, and other persons who may influence content of this accredited continuing education (CE). In addition, speakers/presenters and authors must disclose any planned discussion of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices during their presentation(s). For this accredited continuing education activity all relevant financial relationships have been mitigated and detailed disclosures are listed below.
*Ineligible companies are those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by, or on, patients. The ACCME does not consider providers of clinical services directly to patients to be ineligible companies.
Name | Role | Financial Relationship Disclosures | Discussion of Unlabeled/Unapproved uses of drugs/devices in presentation? |
Christopher Lowy, PhD | Speaker | Mycobacteria Therapeutics Corporation (Independent Contractor - Other) | Yes |
| Casey Wolfington, PhD | Clinical Director/ Planning Committee Chair | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
Marshall Thomas, MD | Planner | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
Angelia Dreher, PharmD | Planner | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
Whitney Georges, RN | Planner | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
Tracey Branch, MSW | Planner | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
Robert Brown, CPhT | Planner | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
Charles Raison, MD | Planner, Presenter | Otsuka America Pharmaceutical (Independent Contractor - Consultant), | No |
Tania Engle, PA | Planner | No relevant relationships with ineligible companies to disclose | No |
| Eric Buxton, PhD | Peer Reviewer | Johnson and Johnson International (Stock), Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Stock), Organon & Co. (Stock), Merck KGaA (Stock) | No |
 | In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP and Vail Health. The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. |
Credit Designation Statements
American Medical Association (AMA)
The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 ANCC hours.
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP designates this knowledge-based activity for 1 hour or 0.1 CEUs. Credit can be earned by successfully completing the activity and the evaluation. Credit will be provided to NABP CPE Monitor within 60 days after the activity completion.
UAN:
Pharmacist: JA0000358-9999-24-030-H99-P
Pharmacy Technician: JA0000358-9999-24-030-H99-T
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
 | As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (ICEP) is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 general, live continuing education credits. |
American Psychological Association (APA)
 | Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibly for the content of the programs. |
American Association of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
 | The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 2/14/2026. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation. |
Continuing Education Units
The University of Wisconsin–Madison ICEP, as a member of the University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), authorizes this program for 0.1 continuing education units (CEUs) or 1 hours.
Available Credit
- 1.00 AAPA Category 1 CME
- 1.00 ACPE Contact Hours - Pharmacist
- 1.00 ACPE Contact Hours - Pharmacist Technician
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 1.00 ANCC Contact Hours
- 1.00 APA CE Credits
- 1.00 University of Wisconsin–Madison Continuing Education Hours
- 1.00 Approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Click BEGIN to register
Registration for this activity can only be completed through the ICEP Learning Portal. Attendee registrations made through any other sites cannot be honored. UW-Madison ICEP is not able to refund fees paid through unaffiliated registration sites, such as eMedEvents.com, MedConfWorld.com, EventEgg.com, and 10times.com. Please report any unauthorized websites or solicitations for registrations to help@icep.wisc.edu.
Accessibility
The University of Wisconsin provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX requirements. The University of Wisconsin fully complies with the legal requirements of the ADA and the rules and regulations thereof. If any participant in this educational activity is in need of accommodations, please notify us at help@icep.wisc.edu
Questions
For questions about registration, please email help@icep.wisc.edu. For general questions about this series, please contact Pam French at pamela.french@wisc.edu
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