What if the fastest way to calm the brain starts in the gut? In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Sabine Hazan reveals surprising links between gut microbes and the brain—showing how tiny shifts in bifidobacteria can influence cognition, behavior, and recovery. She also unpacks the truth about fecal transplant, what makes a ‘good’ donor, why environment and product quality can undo progress, and how to verify real microbiome healing instead of guessing.
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Fecal transplants, fake probiotics, and the fight for real gut healing. In this episode of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, Dr. Sabine Hazan joins us to share her groundbreaking work linking the gut to the brain and immune system. She explains how changes in the microbiome can influence conditions like autism and why restoring balance in the gut often leads to measurable improvements in health and behavior.
Dr. Hazan breaks down why fecal transplant is both science and art, from choosing the right donor to ensuring true engraftment and a supportive environment. She also exposes how many probiotic and yogurt labels fail to match their claims, urging families to test and verify quality. Her message is clear: when we protect the gut, we open the door to lasting healing and scientific discovery.
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Dr. Sabine Hazan is a trailblazer in gastroenterology, internal medicine, and hepatology, known for redefining how we understand the microbiome. As the first woman accepted into the University of Florida’s Clinical Gastroenterology Fellowship, she went on to lead over 300 clinical trials through her company, Ventura Clinical Trials, and now serves as founder and CEO of Progenabiome, a genetic sequencing lab conducting more than 35 microbiome studies.
Her team was the first in the world to detect SARS-CoV-2 in patient stool samples by whole genome sequencing, linking gut health to susceptibility to COVID. As Series Editor on the microbiome for Practical Gastroenterology and a frequent speaker at global conferences, she continues to push the boundaries of microbiome science—most recently pioneering familial fecal transplants that offer new hope for children with autism.
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Sabine Hazan, MD
Website: progenabiome.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dr.sabinehazan
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Nancy O’Hara, MD, MPH, FAAP, FMAPS
Website: https://www.drohara.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drnancyohara/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhoharamd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-o-hara-md-mph-faap-390781258/
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