Social microbiomes and how they shape host health in social animals
Official title: Social Microbiome Assembly, Function, and Impacts on Host Health
Funded at University of Oregon · NIH-11361554 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study using a zebrafish model will explore how microbes shared through social interaction influence development and health in social animals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oregon NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,854,174 |
| NIH project number | 5RM1GM158513-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361554 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals or populations with social interaction patterns that could be linked to microbiome-related health issues or those interested in translating zebrafish findings to human health.
✕Less likely to help
Findings may have limited direct applicability to people if the translational gap between zebrafish and human biology remains large.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a new zebrafish model to precisely manipulate social and microbial interactions and observe how social networks shape the gut and brain microbiomes. The project aims to identify bacterial communities that arise from social contact and how these communities affect host development, brain function, and immune health. By linking microbial networks to host biology, the study hopes to uncover mechanisms by which social life and microbes jointly influence health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal how social environments influence microbiomes and host health, informing new approaches to prevent or treat disorders linked to social behavior and microbiome disruption.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in model organisms suggests social context can shape microbiomes and host biology, with growing interest in vertebrate models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oregon
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guillemin, Karen J — University of Oregon
- Study coordinator: Guillemin, Karen J
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.