Microbiome research is fundamental to health, climate, and ecosystems. Some of the most important developments in modern science have resulted from harnessing the power of microbes, from vaccine development for smallpox to the development of biofuels. This briefing series, spearheaded by the American Society for Microbiology, aims to provide Members of Congress and their staff with exciting, first-hand knowledge on a variety of topics centered on microbiome research across the spectrum of scientific disciplines—from the human microbiome and gut health, to agriculture and soil health, to space, the oceans, and beyond.

Webinar Topics

Gut Check: What You Need to Know About the Microbiome and Nutrition

On July 28, ASM co-hosted a webinar for Congressional staff and other stakeholders with the American Society for Nutrition on human microbiome research. Program panelists included Dr. Lita Proctor, former program coordinator of the Human Microbiome Project at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and American Academy of Microbiology member Dr. Jeffrey Gordon.

 

 

Demystifying the Phytobiome

This webinar, jointly sponsored by the American Phytopathological Society, the Soil Science Society of America, and the American Society for Microbiology, will demonstrate why continued federal investments in microbiome and phytobiome research are necessary to support the plant ecosystems that help sustain life as we know it on planet Earth. Panelists will discuss what is needed to maintain progress in discovery through basic research and accelerate the translation of these findings into new and game-changing technologies that affect animal and human health and the environment around us, particularly as we face daunting challenges like climate change.


 

Harnessing Data for Solutions—the National Microbiome Data Collaborative

This webinar, jointly sponsored by the National Microbiome Data Collaborative and the American Society for Microbiology, will showcase the NMDC’s role in developing a microbiome data ecosystem together with the scientific research community and the federal government. It will highlight the importance of data sharing in the microbiome sciences and demonstrate why continued federal investment in research infrastructure to support Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) microbiome data, such as data standards, computational infrastructure, and workforce, is critical for advancing microbiome research with broad societal impacts.


Presenters

Contact Information

Amalia Corby, advocacy@asmusa.org