Understanding the role of viruses in the human microbiome
Official title: Computational tools for illuminating the dark matter of the human virome
Funded at Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories · NIH-10985996 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring the many unknown viruses that live in our bodies and how they affect our health, with the goal of finding better ways to understand and manage these viruses to help us feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richland, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $576,681 |
| NIH project number | 1U01DE034176-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10985996 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals interested in the health impacts of their microbiome and those with conditions potentially influenced by viral interactions within their microbiome.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no interest in microbiome health or those not affected by viral interactions in their microbiome may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on uncovering the vast and largely unknown group of viruses that influence the human microbiome and, consequently, human health. By utilizing advanced metagenome sequencing and computational tools, the project aims to catalog and characterize these viruses, which are crucial for understanding their interactions with microbial communities. The researchers will develop new methods for detecting viral sequences and analyzing their genetic information to better understand their impact on health. This work could lead to improved strategies for monitoring and manipulating these viral communities to enhance human health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights and tools for improving human health by better understanding the role of viruses in the microbiome.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in understanding the microbiome's role in health, but this specific approach to cataloging viral elements is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories
Richland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdermott, Jason Edward — Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories
- Study coordinator: Mcdermott, Jason Edward
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.