Norm Robillard, Ph.D. (Norman John Robillard), founder of the Digestive Health Institute, is a gut health expert, author, and medical microbiologist specializing in digestive health and microbiome research. He is the creator of the Fast Tract Diet – Fermentation Potential (FP) system, author of the Fast Tract Digestion book series, and publisher of the Fast Tract Diet mobile app.
Dr. Norm received his Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, studying Bacillus anthracis and other Bacillus species. His post-doctoral training at Tufts University, Boston, focused on antibiotic resistance gene transfer. He was the first to demonstrate the transfer of genes (via conjugation) between the anaerobic gut microbes Bacteroides fragilis and E. coli.
During his career in pharma/biotech, Dr. Norm studied the mechanisms of antibiotic action and the genetics of antibiotic resistance. His work contributed to the development and approval of ciprofloxacin, a life-saving antibiotic. However, he always recommended a cautious approach with antibiotics balancing the benefits with the risks and side effects.
Beyond antibiotics, Dr. Norm worked on various other projects, including septic shock, viral illnesses, and other antibiotics, as well as antiviral and antibody-based therapies.
Dr. Norm Robillard’s peer-reviewed journal articles include:
- Dose ranging and fractionation of intravenous ciprofloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in an in vitro model of infection.
- Spontaneous quinolone resistance in Serratia marcescens due to a mutation in gyrA.
- Broad-host-range gyrase A gene probe.
- Analysis of acquired ciprofloxacin resistance in a clinical strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Factors influencing the accumulation of ciprofloxacin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Genetic and physiological characterization of ciprofloxacin resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO.
- Tn4400, a compound transposon isolated from Bacteroides fragilis, functions in Escherichia coli.
- Chromosomal mapping of Bacillus thuringiensis by transduction.
- Interspecies transduction of plasmids among Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis.
After over 20 years in pharma, Dr. Norm became interested in dietary and behavioral approaches for functional GI issues and founded the Digestive Health Institute as a hub for information and support for people suffering from these conditions.
He currently serves as a scientific board member of the Nutrition & Metabolism Society. In addition, he continues to participate in clinical research to improve dietary and behavioral approaches to IBS, GERD, and other functional GI conditions, as well as gut dysbioses, including SIBO, SIFO, LIBO, IMO, and general imbalances.
Dr. Norm Robillard helps people with a variety of digestive health issues, including:
- Heartburn | Acid Reflux | GERD
- Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease (LPR)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) | Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
- Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth (SIFO)
- Intestinal Methane Overgrowth (IMO)
- Histamine issues
- Leaky gut and autoimmunity
- Celiac and Crohn’s disease
- Diverticulitis
- Asthma
- Rosacea
- Weight loss and weight gain
- Other health issues related to digestive health
He focuses on addressing the root cause of these conditions and employs his 4-pillar approach, which includes targeted supplement recommendations tailored to your specific case, as an integrative alternative to drugs and antibiotics.
Dr. Norm was the first to propose small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) as the underlying cause of acid reflux and explained the connection between intragastric pressure from gas-producing bacteria in our intestines, nutritional malabsorption, and the symptoms of acid reflux in his first book, Heartburn Cured.
His latest book series provides a safe and effective dietary tool and behavioral strategy (the Fast Tract Diet) as an alternative to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2 blockers, IBS drugs, or antibiotics for GERD, IBS, and other SIBO-related conditions.
The Fast Tract Diet was presented at the Digestive Disease Week conference in 2013 to provide gastroenterologists with a new science-based dietary treatment option for addressing SIBO-related conditions.
Dr. Norm’s Fast Tract Diet mobile app was recognized and included in the Top Gut Health Apps of the Year by Healthline in 2017 and 2019.
About his personal journey on digestive health, please read one of his blogs, What Really Causes Acid Reflux and GERD?
