Research

We leverage success in autism-microbiome, microbiome-metabolism, microbiome-bioremediation, basic and translational research to advance microbial interventions to enhance health.  

Building Biodesign’s capacity, in concert with strong clinical and industrial collaborations, the center also generates discoveries on a wide range of interventions involving nutrition, probiotics and antibiotics. Many of these interventions target gut-brain interactions. Our translational center leads on microbial strategies to better manage obesity, autism and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. 

Areas of investigation include:  

• Microbial ecology.
• The relationship between human microbiomes and obesity, metabolic disorders and diabetes.
• Autism spectrum disorder-microbiome connection.
• Chemical-microbiome interactions, including the effects of antibiotics. 
• Nutrition, diet and food additives and their interaction with the gut microbiome. 
• Microbiome-mediated gut-brain interactions. 
• The interaction of human microbiomes with the environment. 
• Microbiomes and antibiotic resistance. 

Our capabilities: 

• Fully equipped microbiology and molecular biology facility for classic microbiology and genomic based analysis of microbial communities. 

• Fully equipped lab for growth and analysis of anaerobic microbes and microbial communities. 

• Analytical chemistry facility. 

• Deep expertise and capacity for bioinformatic analysis of microbial communities through genomic-based methods. 

• Deep expertise in design and operation of anaerobic bioreactors. 

Our team aims to make discoveries that can improve health.

Industry collaboration and support