# Microbial Genomics Biomedical Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $184,999

## Abstract

MICROBIAL GENOMICS BIOMEDICAL CORE (MGBC): PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The mission of the Columbia University O’Brien Urology Research Center is to identify genetic factors and
congenital malformations that predispose individuals to UTI, such as vesicoureteral reflux, to explore host-
bacterial metabolic pathways, such as heme, that enable or prevent infection. To achieve this goal, the Microbial
Genomics and Biomedical Core (MGBC) will provide high quality services for biobanking, extended bacterial
culture, microbial genomics (microbiome analyses, comparative genomics, RNASeq), microbial genetics and
consultation for study design. The MGBC will enable Columbia O’Brien Center investigators to have access to
specialized genomic technologies, coordinated expert consultations and improved rigor and reproducibility in
genomics and precision medicine. These services are specifically designed to meet the needs of the Research
Projects of the Columbia O’Brien Center. Moreover, the MBMC will serve as a national resource for members of
other George M. O'Brien Cooperative Research Centers and other NIDDK Urologic Research Programs.
Additionally, the MGBC will work closely with the Administrative Core to ensure adherence to all fiscal,
administrative, and resource sharing policies. The MGBC will also contribute to the goals of the Educational
Enrichment and Opportunity Pool Programs through lectures, student mentorship, and guidance on experimental
design related to microbial genomics for Opportunity Pool awardees. The MBMC will accomplish these goals
through the following aims: 1) Establish a urine biorepository from clinically well-defined patients with different
UTI symptoms; 2) Provide Microbiome and metagenome analyses; 3) Perform extended urine culture for
organism identification; 4) Facilitate whole genome sequencing of dominant UTI pathogenic clones; 5) Determine
gene expression by RNAseq and quantitative real-time PCR; 6) Generate bacterial mutants; and 7) Provide
consultations and support of study design for the Research Projects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10022313
- **Project number:** 5U54DK104309-07
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Anne-Catrin Uhlemann
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $184,999
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2014-09-24 → 2021-09-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10022313

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10022313, Microbial Genomics Biomedical Core (5U54DK104309-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10022313. Licensed CC0.

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