Better tools to map how microbes in the body interact
Statistical Methods for Enhanced Mapping of Microbiome Relationships
Building improved statistical tools to understand how microbes in people's bodies connect with diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168963 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will create new computational and statistical methods that make it easier to map relationships among microbes, between microbes and human genes, and between microbes and health outcomes. The team will apply these tools to very large microbiome profiling studies to find reliable patterns and reduce false leads. They will also build methods to discover genetic variants linked to specific microbes and use genetic approaches to probe whether microbes help cause disease. The methods will be packaged into software that other researchers can use on existing or new patient data.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or neurodegenerative disorders who can provide microbiome samples, genetic data, or allow access to their clinical records would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People without those conditions or who cannot provide samples or data are unlikely to see direct benefits from this methods-focused work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could reveal clearer microbe–disease links and help guide better microbiome-based tests or treatments in the future.
How similar studies have performed: There have been some high-profile successes linking microbiome changes to treatment responses and infections, but many studies show inconsistent results, so improved methods are much needed.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Michael Chiao-an — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Wu, Michael Chiao-an
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.