The goal of the Trans-University Microbiome Initiative (TUMI) is to leverage world-class academic and translational research resources at the University of Virginia to distinguish UVa as a global leader in the study of host-microbiome interactions in health and disease. We propose to transform The University’s capacity to:
1) Isolate, culture, and characterize diverse microbiota
2) Transfer microbiota from humans or conventional donor mice to gnotobiotic mice (raised in germ-free facilities) to establish causal relationships between microbes and host phenotypes
3) Identify microbes and microbial products with therapeutic potential
4) Promote host-microbiome scientific projects using TUMI resources to support preliminary data for competitive external funding
5) Engage industry partners to accelerate the application of microbiome science to the bedside.
This pipeline will further be exploited to establish precise mechanisms of action and screen libraries of probiotics and microbial products for therapeutic effects in close partnership with industry.