Laura is a world-leading neurogastroenterologist with advanced clinical expertise in autonomic disorders and medical genetics along with a PhD in neuroscience. Her research is focused on discovering the pathophysiological mechanisms of microbiota-neuroimmune axis disorders, with a particular focus on the human gastrointestinal system. Laura is board certified from the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, and from the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties in Autonomic Disorders. She has been a leader in the rare disease space for many years and for the past several years has served as the co-lead for the adult program for the University of Utah NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Network (NIH UDN) clinical site, Medical Board member for Dysautonomia International and Chair of the Gastrointestinal Working Group for the International Consortium on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders. Laura has an BS in Chemistry from Stony Brook University, a MD from the University of Illinois Chicago, and a PHD in Neuroscience from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has advanced research training in the areas of neuroscience, microbial physiology, evolution and genetics, as well as analytical chemistry studying host-microbe interactions. Additionally, she has advanced clinical training in the physiology, diagnostics, and clinical management of neurogastrointestinal disorders and medical genetics. She has published over 100 peer reviewed journal articles and has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and private foundations.