From Genes to Molecules: Expanding the Chemical Space of Microbial and Microbiome Natural Products
Official title: From Genes to Molecules and Back: Expanding the Chemical Space of Microbial and Microbiome Natural Products
Funded at Princeton University · NIH-11392415 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring hidden natural products produced by bacteria and the human microbiome to understand their structures, functions, and potential health benefits.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Princeton University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Princeton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $492,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM152049-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392415 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with infectious diseases or microbiome-related conditions may indirectly benefit through future therapies arising from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Immediate patient benefit is not guaranteed; the work is primarily discovery-focused and long-term in its translational trajectory.
What this research studies
This project builds on methods to awaken silent bacterial compounds and studies how these molecules act in the body and in microbial communities. It aims to map new biosynthetic pathways, discover novel enzymes, and expand the chemical diversity of natural products, with a focus on how these compounds could influence human health. The work will combine genetics, chemistry, and bioinformatics to explore cryptic metabolites in diverse bacteria, including the human microbiome. The approach emphasizes translating basic science into insights about health and disease at the level of microbes and their chemistry.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could uncover new antibiotics or therapeutic molecules and deepen our understanding of how the human microbiome contributes to health and disease.
How similar studies have gone: Past work has revealed novel enzymatic transformations and cryptic metabolites, with growing interest in microbiome-derived compounds, suggesting potential but not yet proven therapeutic impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Princeton University
Princeton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seyedsayamdost, Mohammad R — Princeton University
- Study coordinator: Seyedsayamdost, Mohammad R
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.