Microbiome Event

Since the publication of the first human genome about two decades back, the omics era ushered biological research in all directions, out of which the investigation into microbial communities and human microbiome has been unprecedented. Microbiome by definition constitute all the microbes present in and outside human body, animals, environment and the planet together with their activities including structural elements, gene, expressed gene and proteins, metabolites/signal molecules, and their surrounding environmental conditions. Over time, studies have been done using different model systems to elucidate association between health and diseased conditions. The National Institutes of Health Integrated Human Microbiome Project (iHMP) carried over ten years in two phases studied microbial composition from oral, gut, nasal, vagina and skin, followed by cohorts on microbiome associated pregnancy preterm- birth, IBD and pre-diabetes. The projects revealed new avenues and technologies for future research. The Indian Human Microbiome Project (IHMP) subsequently conceived and funded by the DBT across seven sites mapped the microbiome composition of India’s communities, including 32 tribes and worked out how genetics, diet and environment impact it. It has been planned to develop precision probiotics for the Indian population based on Ayurveda Prakriti phenotypes.

The National Conference on Microbiome & Biota R&D jointly being organized by Swami Rama Himalayan University and the Gut Microbiota and Probiotics Science Foundation aims to share knowledge that has emerged after these large Microbiome Projects and continue the talks between basic and clinical researchers as to how microbiome and biota R & D could help addressing gut health, metabolic disease, pre-term birth, gut-brain axis, special diets for cancer & brain health etc. We believe that the conference may lead to fostering collaboration and knowledge-exchange amongst researchers, clinicians and start-ups addressing India's unique demographies, diverse populations with varying lifestyles, offer a valuable opportunity to study the microbiome and its impact on health and disease, potentially leading to tailored/precision interventions and improved public health outcomes.