FERGUS SHANAHAN, MD, DSc is professor and chairman of the department of medicine, University College Cork, National University of Ireland, and director of the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, a research centre funded by Science Foundation Ireland that investigates host-microbe interactions in the gut and the therapeutic potential of mining the microbiota.

His interests include most things that affect the human experience. He has published over 450 scientific articles and several books in the areas of mucosal immunology, inflammatory bowel disease, and the microbiota and including several articles relating to the medical humanities.