The Human Gut Microbiome Viewed Across Geography
Posted 18th January 2017 by Jane Williams
Chronic illnesses such as IBD, obesity and diabetes were once considered ‘western’ diseases. However, changes to diet and lifestyle are steadily taking their toll and prevalence rates are rising across the globe. (1)
Microbiome: Evolution and Revolution
Posted 11th January 2017 by Jane Williams
Life started with unicellular microorganisms
They weren’t complex but they reproduced fast – adapting to the catastrophic events (underwater volcanic activity, change in temperature and chemical composition) of their environment in the oceans of the primordial Earth.
Susceptibility to Alcohol Induced Liver Injury: Driven by Gut Microbiota?
Posted 6th January 2017 by Jane Williams
Over the past decade, the intestinal microbiota has increasingly been recognised as a critical factor in health and disease. My research focuses on the role of the gut microbiome in metabolic diseases and my main aim is to prove causality. Most studies describe the gut microbiota from patients and compare it to healthy controls.
Skin Commensals and T cells: How Do We Keep the Peace?
Posted 30th December 2016 by Jane Williams
Tiffany Scharschmidt spoke to us about her thoughts on the skin microbiome, immune responses and inflammatory skin diseases.
Disease, Ageing and Lifestyle: Considerations from the Microbiome Forum
Posted 21st December 2016 by Jane Williams
At the 3rd Microbiome R&D and Business Collaboration Forum: Europe, topics covered the impact of microbiomes on human health and disease, developing therapeutics, and investment into the microbiome. Duc H. Le, the UK Editor-in-Chief of EBioMedicine, summarises some of the presentations that took place.
5 Things You Need to Know About Venture Capital Firms
Posted 5th December 2016 by Jane Williams
As a start-up looking for funding, every venture capital firm might seem the same, but all money is not created equal. When you present yourself to a venture capitalist, you’re selling to a business. This means you need to get to know their business and what motivates their decision-makers.
In vitro Modelling of the Human Upper Digestive Tract
Posted 25th November 2016 by Jane Williams
Artificial digestive systems are increasingly used as a relevant alternative to in vivo studies for ethical, technical, regulatory and cost reasons. For more than 20 years, CIDAM, from the University of Auvergne in France, has been developing platforms such as the artificial digestion associating dissolution apparatus, mastication simulator, gastric and small intestinal models, large intestinal systems and intestinal cells in culture.
How to get Funding for Your Human Microbiome Startup
Posted 14th November 2016 by Jane Williams
The vast amount of research into the human microbiome is attracting new companies to the field and the race to translate scientific data into viable products has begun. Financial interest in the microbiome is at an all-time high, giving many scientists the opportunity to start their own business as product development or service companies.