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Precision Probiotic Therapies—Challenges and Opportunities

Date: April 26, 2022 to April 27, 2022

Virtual

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.”

Precision Probiotic Therapies square

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Agenda

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

What are the current challenges in probiotic research?

10:00–10:05 a.m. | Welcome

  • Barbara C. Sorkin, Ph.D., M.S., Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
  • Hye-Sook Kim, Ph.D., National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

10:05–10:10 a.m. | Opening remarks

10:10–10:50 a.m. | Keynote: 

  • Jeffrey Gordon, M.D.Washington University in St. Louis. Microbiome-directed complementary foods for treating childhood undernutrition

10:50 a.m.–1:30 p.m. | Session One: Current challenges in clinical trials

Moderators: 

  • Gabriela Riscuta, M.D., M.S., C.N.S., National Cancer Institute (NCI) 
  • R. Dwayne Lunsford, Ph.D., National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Speakers:

Break

Session 1 Panel Discussion 

1:30–2:00 p.m. | Lunch Break

2:00–5:30 p.m. | Session Two: Host-microbiome interactions in precision probiotic research 

Moderators: 

  • Ashley Vargas, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.N., Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
  • Frank A. Hamilton, M.D., M.P.H., M.A.C.G., A.G.A.F. (NIDDK)

Speakers:

Break

Session 2 Panel Discussion

5:30–5:35 p.m. | Closing remarks and adjourn


Wednesday, April 27, 2022

What will be the next steps in precision probiotics?

10:00–10:05 a.m. | Welcome

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

10:05–10:10 a.m. | Opening remarks

  • Joseph M. Betz, Ph.D., Acting Director, ODS

10:10–10:50 a.m. | Keynote: 

10:50 a.m.–1:30 p.m. | Session Three: Next generation probiotics—new strain identification and development

Moderators: 

  • Padma Maruvada, Ph.D. (NIDDK)
  • Ryan Ranallo, Ph.D., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Speakers:

Break

Session 3 Panel Discussion

1:30–2:00 p.m. | Lunch Break

2:00–5:00 p.m. | Session Four: Emerging technologies for precision probiotics 

Moderators: 

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

Speakers:

Break

Session 4 Panel Discussion

5:00–5:10 p.m. | Closing remarks and adjourn

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

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., M.S. (ODS)
  • Joseph M. Betz, Ph.D. (ODS)


NIH Workshop Planning Committee Members:

  • Wen Chen, Ph.D. (NCCIH)
  • Roberto Flores, Ph.D., M.S., M.P.H. (ONR)
  • Frank A. Hamilton, M.D., M.P.H., M.A.C.G., A.G.A.F. (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., M.S., 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, M.D., Ph.D. (NIA)


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

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

Sign language interpreting services are available upon request. Individuals who need interpreting services and/or other reasonable accommodations to participate in this event should contact the NCCIH Clearinghouse at info@nccih.nih.gov or 1-888-644-6226 by Tuesday, April 19, 2022.