Better Ways to Understand Your Body's Microbes
Improving Microbiome Science by Modeling the Measurement Process
This project is creating better tools to understand the tiny living communities, called microbiomes, inside our bodies, which can help us learn more about various health conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina State University Raleigh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Raleigh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11011795 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies are home to many tiny living communities, called microbiomes, that play a big role in our health. This project aims to create more precise and accurate ways to measure these microbiomes, especially in challenging samples like tissue biopsies. By developing new computer methods and software, we hope to get a clearer picture of these microbial communities. This improved understanding can help researchers learn more about conditions like preterm birth and how to fight antibiotic resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with conditions related to the microbiome, such as those at risk for preterm birth or facing antimicrobial resistance, could indirectly benefit from the improved understanding this research provides.
Not a fit: Patients whose health conditions are not related to the body's microbial communities may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate diagnoses and better treatments for a wide range of health problems linked to the microbiome.
How similar studies have performed: While sequencing methods for microbiomes are common, this project focuses on developing novel computational methods to overcome current limitations and improve resolution in difficult samples.
Where this research is happening
Raleigh, United States
- North Carolina State University Raleigh — Raleigh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Callahan, Benjamin John — North Carolina State University Raleigh
- Study coordinator: Callahan, Benjamin John
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.