Complex ‘microbiomes’ consisting of communities of bacteria, fungi, and viruses exist everywhere from the soil around a plant root to the human body and the New York subway. In recent years, it has become clear that changes to the microbiome can have profound effects on human and animal health and the environment. The composition of a cancer patient’s gut microbiome can affect how well chemotherapy will work for them. The community of bacteria found near the root of a crop plant can affect the plant’s ability to withstand climate change.
An ever-expanding list of how microbiomes affect health, disease, and the environment, combined with novel tools for studying and altering microbiomes, has led to an explosion of microbiome research in recent years. University of Oxford researchers within a broad range of departments are studying microbiomes in humans, plants, aquatic ecosystems, the atmosphere, food, and many other areas. Although research areas are diverse, many of the tools used to study the microbiome, such as high-throughput sequencing technologies, microbial culturing, and bioinformatic data analysis, are universally important. Microbiome research works best when it is interdisciplinary, but the fact that microbiome researchers are spread within the University limits their ability to interact and to share expertise and resources.
The Oxford Microbiome Network (OMiN) was established to bring together microbiome researchers across the University of Oxford. In doing so, the network leaders hope to foster new collaborations and improve access to the training, technologies, and equipment which are crucial to all microbiome research. The network is led by Dr Jethro Johnson (Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology), Professor Gail Preston (Department of Biology) and Associate Professor Sarah Knowles (Department of Biology) and is coordinated by Chik On Choy (Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology).
The OMiN launch event took place on 20th May 2024 at Keble College, Oxford. Engaging talks about the microbiome in precision psychiatry and plant roots were followed by breakout sessions aimed at shaping the direction of OMiN in ways that would most benefit researchers, covering collaboration, training, and translational approaches. The event ended with a series of short presentations on the resources available to the network, such that OMiN members can start to build productive collaborations. Attendees from across the University of Oxford also enjoyed the opportunity to network with other researchers over coffee and cake. This type of meeting is expected to happen several times per year, but network members can interact at any time through OMiN’s communication channels.
About the hopes for the network, Dr Johnson said: ‘We were thrilled with the turnout for the launch event. Already it’s possible to see opportunities – for example, development of synthetic microbial communities – where expertise from different departments can come together to help make the University a leader in this rapidly advancing field. We’re really excited to see where this can go.’
Jacob Wilde, from the Department of Biology, said about the launch event: ‘I met so many fellow researchers that I didn't know, so many people interested in the same things I am, but with different specialisations.’
Dr Charlotte Bell, Senior Business Partnerships Manager said: ‘The launch of OMiN has created an interconnected group of researchers across Oxford, and a focal point which can act as a gateway for Industry to find the most aligned research, potential collaborators and cutting edge facilities to drive forward their commercial activities in the microbiome space.’
Researchers from the University of Oxford who would like to join the network can complete a registration form here.
The OMiN leads are grateful to the John Fell Fund, which provided the resources to launch the network and for the first two years of its operations.