Debby Laukens is full professor of Experimental Gastroenterology at Ghent University (Belgium) and Principal Investigator at the department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Her research focuses on chronic intestinal inflammation - particularly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - and explores the central role of the gut in neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and behavior-related disorders. A major focus aims at increasing recognition that fatigue in immune-mediated conditions like IBD has a biological basis and should be approached as a treatable symptom. This work was recognized with the prestigious IBD Pioneer Grant from ECCO in 2023, supporting her investigation into the role of functional gut bacteria in IBD-related fatigue. Finally, she is also involved in cutting-edge Horizon Europe projects (TENTACLE and DAEDALUS) developing in situ bioprinting technologies to regenerate gut mucosa.