About
Academic background
Professor Michigan State University, 1992 - 2012
Assistant Professor, Miami University, Ohio 1990-1992
Postdoctoral fellow, Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. 1987-90
Postdoctoral researcher. Scripps Institute of Oceanography, San Diego, Calif. 1985-87
Ph.D. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Research area: Microbiology 1985
M.S. Ohio State University; Columbus, Ohio. Research area: Environmental Biology 1981
B.S. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. Biology 1978
Research interests
The current goal of our research is to learn enough about the physiology and ecology of microbes and microbial communities in the gut that we are able to engineer the gut microbiome to improve human health. One of the most effective ways to influence the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota is through diet. In an interventional study, we have tracked responses in the composition and fermentative metabolism of the gut microtiota in >800 healthy individuals. Emerging patterns suggest several configurations of the microbiome that can result in increased production of benficial metabolites. We have isolated the microbes that form an anaerobic food web to convert dietary fiber to these metabolites and continue to make discoveries about their physiology and interactions. Based on these results, we are participating in two clinical trials. One trial is attempting to prevent the development of Graft versus Host Disease following bone marrow transplants and the second is to complement immunotherapy in cancer treatments.
We study pure cultures of microbes and synthetic microbial communities as well as there interaction with the host using human organoids and gnotobiotic mice. We view results from wet-lab research and bioinformatic analysis of metagenomes and metabolome from an ecological perspective, all with an eye towards restoring and maintaining the gut ecosystem.
Research Areas(s)
- Patterns of diversity, metabolic tradeoffs and interactions in the microbial world
Affiliation(s)
- Department of Internal Medicine
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Field(s) of Study
- Patterns of diversity, metabolic tradeoffs and interactions in the microbial world
