# A Proposal for a Microbiome Center Conference

> **NIH NIH R13** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 2020 · $5,000

## Abstract

Project Summary
Microbiome-related factors are increasingly linked to disease and treatment outcomes,
particularly in cancer. The gut microbiome in particular has been associated with gastrointestinal
disorders, and the incidence of cancer and the efficacy of its treatment. Thus, deciphering the
taxonomic composition and functional significance of the microbiome in human health is a key
component for the NIH, and likely has the potential to change how we will diagnose and treat a
diversity of diseases in the future, including cancer.
The study of human microbiomes is a complex undertaking, requiring state-of-the-art
methodology in DNA sequencing, a multitude of ‘omic methodologies, imaging, cultivation and
bioinformatics. The multidisciplinary nature of microbiome research and its importance to human
health has led to the establishment of microbiome centers at multiple institutions across the US.
These microbiome centers occur at universities, research institutes, and national labs and often
network biologists across disciplines with computational experts, serving as a local research
and education nexus. With over 40 microbiome centers now established, we propose a
conference to link these centers. We suggest that having a network of centers will facilitate
research, standardize research practices, promote research rigor and reproducibility, and
enhance educational opportunities.
We propose to host a conference at the University of Chicago in Jun 2020, just prior to the
American Society of Microbiology. The 1.5 day conference will focus on how a network of
microbiome centers would serve researchers, what the objectives of a network might be, and
how a network would be structured. We will showcase several examples of collaborative efforts
that have been productive in microbiomes and human health and host a working group to
examine how collaborations among NIH researchers can be enhanced. A working group
specifically focused on developing a microbiome center network, modeled on other successful
networks, will also be convened. Our conference will include undergraduate and graduate
student interns, and specific funding for junior faculty that aim to develop into leadership roles.
We will advertise the Conference broadly to existing societies and groups that encompass those
underrepresented in science to enhance participation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9994647
- **Project number:** 1R13CA250289-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Eric G. Pamer
- **Activity code:** R13 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $5,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9994647

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9994647, A Proposal for a Microbiome Center Conference (1R13CA250289-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9994647. Licensed CC0.

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