Improving Microbiome Measurement with Better Computational Methods
Official title: Improving Microbiome Science by Modeling the Measurement Process
Funded at North Carolina State University Raleigh · NIH-11362137 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher team is developing better computer-based ways to measure and interpret the microbes living in the human body, aiming to help doctors understand health issues linked to the microbiome.
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 start | September 1, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $412,589 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM133745-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362137 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals whose health could be influenced by microbiome composition and quality sequencing data from challenging samples like tissue biopsies.
✕Less likely to help
People without conditions related to microbiome health or those not providing relevant samples are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to make microbiome measurements more accurate and reproducible by creating new computational methods and open-source software. It focuses on samples with high DNA backgrounds, like tissue biopsies, to achieve sub-species level resolution without costly culturing. The work blends biology with computer science to improve how we measure microbial communities in health contexts such as predicting preterm birth and reducing antimicrobial resistance. The team collaborates with other researchers to apply these methods across different health problems and sample types. Over five years, the project will refine sequencing-based approaches and correct biases in microbiome data to enable broader, more reliable studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians and researchers could obtain more precise microbiome data from challenging samples, leading to better understanding and management of health conditions linked to microbes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous approaches improved measurement but struggled with high-DNA backgrounds; this project aims to overcome those limitations with new methods.
Where this research is happening
-
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
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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.