The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), in collaboration with Federal agencies and private-sector stakeholders, is announcing a new National Microbiome Initiative (NMI) to foster the integrated study of microbiomes across different ecosystems, and is hosting an event to bring together stakeholders vital to advancing the NMI.
Metabiomics Participated in the recent workshop
Metabiomics plans to develop a non-invasive test for earlier and more accurate detection of colon polyps and colorectal cancer (CRC) based on human microbiome biomarkers. In partnership with gastroenterologists in the Washington, D.C., metro area, as well as George Mason University and the University of Colorado, Metabiomics will develop a technology platform that integrates advances in microbial ecology, next-generation DNA sequencing, and computational systems biology to enable the detection of colon polyps and CRC by sequencing the microbial DNA in stool samples. The primary goal of the new platform is to help diagnosticians catch colon cancer or polyps early, as the removal of colon polyps can interrupt carcinogenesis and save lives. The new platform will also support a pipeline of molecular diagnostics for Crohn’s disease, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic liver disease, and other gastrointestinal and autoimmune diseases.
