Event Description

Probiotic interventions may potentially offer beneficial effects, such as alleviation of gastrointestinal symptoms; “strengthening” of the immune system; protection against infectious diseases; prevention of metabolic disorders; improved mental health; promotion of early development; and general well-being. However, one major challenge in assessing the effects of probiotic interventions has been the inconsistent results of clinical trials. We now have a better understanding of some of the biological and behavioral factors that might contribute to inconsistent outcomes from probiotic interventions (e.g., differences in gut microbiota, diet, age, and lifestyle). Innovative research approaches are needed to understand the contributions and interactions of these factors and to advance methods for their assessment. There is growing interest in the development of individualized microbial therapeutics for targeted interventions in the probiotics literature, but wide gaps in knowledge still need to be addressed.

The goals of this workshop are to: 1) identify gaps in our current understanding of the biology of the gut microbiota and of probiotics and 2) identify research questions and methodological challenges posed by those gaps. Knowledge developed through these activities will provide a critical foundation for future research efforts to develop “precision probiotic therapies.”

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Agenda

Tuesday, April 26, 2022, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. ET

What are the current challenges in probiotic research?

Opening remarks:

• Helene M. Langevin, M.D., Director, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Keynote:

• Jeffrey Gordon, M.D., Washington University in St. Louis

Session One: Current challenges in clinical trials

Moderators:

• Gabriela Riscuta, M.D., C.N.S. (NCI)
• R. Dwayne Lunsford, Ph.D. (NIDDK)

Confirmed Speakers:

• Daniel Merenstein, M.D., Georgetown University
• Rajita Menon, Ph.D., Vedanta Biosciences
• Susan Lynch, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco
• Buffy Stahl, International Flavors & Fragrances Health - DuPont Nutrition & Health

Session Two: Host-microbiome interactions in precision probiotic research

Moderators:

• Ashley Vargas, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.N. (NICHD)
• Frank Hamilton, M.D., M.P.H. (NIDDK)

Confirmed Speakers:

• Purna C. Kashyap, M.B.B.S., Mayo Clinic
• Sarkis Mazmanian, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
• Gianna Hammer, Ph.D., Duke University
• Jun Huh, Ph.D., Harvard University
• Amir Zarrinpar, M.D., Ph.D., University of California, San Diego
• Justin Sonnenburg, Ph.D., Stanford University
• Sharon M. Donovan, Ph.D., R.D., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Liping Zhao, Ph.D., Rutgers University
• Steve D. Townsend, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
• Andrew Goodman, Ph.D., Yale University

Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. ET

What will be the next steps in precision probiotics?

Opening remarks:

• Joseph M. Betz, Ph.D., Acting Director, Office of Dietary Supplements

Keynote:

• Gary Wu, M.D., University of Pennsylvania

Session Three: Next generation probiotics—new strain identification and development

Moderators:

• Padma Maruvada, Ph.D. (NIDDK)
• Ryan Ranallo, Ph.D. (NIAID)

Confirmed Speakers:

• Julia Oh, Ph.D., The Jackson Laboratory
• Jan Peter van Pijkeren, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Tami Lieberman, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Erwin Zoetendal, Ph.D., Wageningen University & Research
• June Round, Ph.D., University of Utah
• Rustem F. Ismagilov, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology

Session Four: Emerging technologies for precision probiotics

Moderators:

• Mukesh Verma, Ph.D. (NCI)
• Terez Shea-Donohue, Ph.D. (NIDDK)

Confirmed Speakers:

• Hyun Jung Kim, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
• Noah Palm, Ph.D., Yale University
• Tom Van de Wiele, Ph.D., Ghent University
• Barbara Rehermann, M.D., NIDDK
• Rima Fathi Kaddurah-Daouk, Ph.D., Duke University
• Sameer Sonkusale, Ph.D., Tufts University
• Emily P. Balskus, Ph.D., Harvard University
• Curtis Huttenhower, Ph.D., Harvard University

Planning Committee

11 Participating National Institutes of Health Institutes, Centers, and Offices:

• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• National Institute on Aging (NIA)
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
• Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
• Office of Nutrition Research (ONR)

Co-chairs:

• Hye-Sook Kim, Ph.D. (NCCIH)
• Barbara C. Sorkin, Ph.D. (ODS)
• Joseph M. Betz, Ph.D. (ODS)

NIH Workshop Planning Committee Members:

• Wen Chen, Ph.D. (NCCIH)
• Roberto Flores, Ph.D., M.P.H. (ONR)
• Frank Hamilton, M.D., M.P.H. (NIDDK)
• David A. Jett, Ph.D. (NINDS)
• Li Lin, Ph.D. (NIAAA)
• R. Dwayne Lunsford, Ph.D. (NIDDK)
• Padma Maruvada, Ph.D. (NIDDK)
• Young Oh, Ph.D. (NHLBI)
• Ryan Ranallo, Ph.D. (NIAID)
• Gabriela Riscuta, M.D., C.N.S. (NCI)
• Terez Shea-Donohue, Ph.D. (NIDDK)
• Ashley Vargas, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.N. (NICHD)
• Mukesh Verma, Ph.D. (NCI)
• Xin (Jean) Yuan, Ph.D. (NIA)

U.S. Department of Agriculture Workshop Planning Committee Member:

• Cindy Davis, Ph.D. (Human Nutrition, Agricultural Research Service)

Individuals who need reasonable accommodation to participate should contact info@nccih.nih.gov by Friday, April 15, 2022.