
Where research meets clinicians.
Gut Health Science was founded by a team of professionals including Dr Henry Butt — Director of Bioscreen — and Dr Fi Lam — a GP who has applied a lens of nutrition, genomics and deep listening to much of her practice over the years. Working together, they are able to verify links between pathology and clinical application.
Dr Mark Ryan has spearheaded the GHS approach to the gut-body-brain axis and
Dr Helena Johnston is the head of clinical governance for the organisation.
Idris Lane and Michael Kennedy are the management team. See their biographies below.
GHS exists for the purpose of researching the science and providing an education platform for the findings thereof — it does not provide medical or clinical advice. Patients should seek treatment from their own health practitioners.
The GHS Team.
Developing an evidence-based approach to gut health.

Founder
Dr Rufina (Fi) Lam
Dr Lam — MHB (Imm), MBChB, DipSport Med, Cert Int Med (Qld), FRNZCGP, FRACGP, FACNEM — works as a rural GP with a special interest in Gut Health, which has allowed her to compile a valuable history of patient case studies that shed light on the practical application of microbiota analysis in clinical care. She has been Chair of the Bellinger River District Hospital Medical Staff Council, involved in Taskforce Planning in developing the Health Care Services Plan 2010–2015 and is presently the ACRRM representative at the Strategic Reform and Planning Branch, in the Genomics and Health System Strategy and Planning Division of the NSW Department of Health.

Founder
Dr Henry Butt
Dr Butt — MSc, PhD — Dr Henry Butt has extensive experience in faecal microbiology. As Director of Bioscreen, a specialist facility in faecal microbial analysis, he has developed and refined testing procedures analysing the gut microbiota. Henry is particularly interested in the science of gut health and the impact of microbiota on nutrient absorption and cellular nutrition. Henry was formerly Scientist-in-Charge of the Department of Microbiology and Infectious Disease, at the John Hunter Hospital, Hunter Area Health NSW, Conjoint Lecturer at Newcastle University, Honorary Senior Fellow of the Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, and Conjoint Associate Professor at Victoria University.

Founder
Dr Mark Ryan
Mark is a psychiatrist with a strong interest in understanding the mind-brain-body nexus and new approaches in therapies that can improve and sustain mental health and well-being. A former clinical lecturer at UNSW, Senior Staff Specialist and Consultation Liaison Psychiatrist at St Vincent's Private Hospital Sydney, Mark's interest lies in developing evidence-based methods of integrating brain-based technologies with interpersonal therapies. He has been involved in research into the latest applications of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Neurofeedback, safe and focal therapies for Depression, OCD, ADHD and Sleep, without the need for medications. He is passionate about establishing evidence of the effects of gut dysbiosis on the brain.

Founder — Clinical Governance
Dr Helena Johnston
Doctor Johnston completed her training in medicine at the University of Adelaide in 1975 and commenced GP work in the outer suburban areas of metropolitan Adelaide. Making her transition to Medical Management in 1986 she obtained a Masters in Health
Administration in 1990 and became a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators (FRACMA) in 1991. Positions followed as Medical Director in SA Health and then to NSW Health in 1995. Dr Johnston combined her Medical Administrator roles with Clinical practice, specialising in Women’s Health until 2000, completing her Fellowship with the College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and setting up the Coffs Harbour Campus of UNSW Rural Clinical School as the Head of The Coffs Harbour Campus. She expanded her medical education experience to trainees in General Practice, as a Medical Educator and Supervisor with North Coast GP training, GP Synergy and RVTS. Dr Johnston’s career continued with a mix of Executive Medical Director role and Clinical Academia, as well as direct patient care in General Practice. Dr Johnston has been a Board Member of various facilities such as the Family Planning Centre (Kensington Adelaide), Coffs Harbour support services, North Coast Area Health Advisory Board, member of the mid North Coast clinical council for the North Coast Primary Health Network. She has taken on quality roles with the Australian Council of Health Care Standards(ACHS) , and been a member of numerous advisory steering committees and working groups related to workforce planning, training and education, quality and safety of service delivery and Clinical Governance. She is currently semi-retired but maintains her Clinical work in Women’s Health, Medical Director locum positions and, most recently Membership of the Clinical Ethics Committee MNCLHD.

Founder — Management
Idris Lane
Idris has broad experience in science and project management.
After a degree in Zoology Idris worked at a remote marine facility on the South West coast of Ireland. Seeing that aquaculture was developing Idris completed an M.Sc. at Galway University and then managed a salmon and ocean-trout farm on the Irish West coast for several years.
Looking for a fresh challenge Idris went to Solomon Islands, as a VSO volunteer with ICLARM (now WorldFish), to established a marine research station on a remote island in the Western Province. After the volunteer period Idris moved into a management role overseeing a number of research projects eventually becoming Officer-in-charge of WorldFish operations in Solomon Islands.
A lifestyle choice saw Idris move to Australia where he was general manager then practice manager at Valla Beach Health.

Founder — Marketing & Strategy
Michael Kennedy
Michael, B. Bus. (QUT) has worked as creative director and strategist within the world's largest advertising and digital marketing agencies. His first-ever ad campaign, the famous Ella Baché black-and-white nudes, has been resurrected after 30 years. He also created 'There's more in store at David Jones', headed up the Microsoft creative account in Australia, ran a surf tour company in the Maldives for his advertising client Singapore Airlines, made the news with his RSPCA Kitten Liquidation Sale ("If you pick them up, we won't put them down"), won international direct marketing awards for Telstra's 'Answer The Call' campaign and, more recently, caused a sensation with the #chocpluswhat campaign for Mondelez, combining Cadbury Chocolate with Vegemite.
His health and medical marketing experience covers Queensland Health, the My health for life initiative, Sanofi, Oventus Medical, Southern Cross Care, Bolton Clarke, OPSM, ResMed Global and more. He has been working pro-bono on organisational and brand strategy, creative, design and digital support for GHS from its inception.