Center for Microbiome Research

Welcome to the Medical College of Wisconsin Center for Microbiome Research (CMR). We are dedicated to providing specialized resources for translational and basic research endeavors on the microbiome. Our goal is to promote education on the microbiome and its impact on human health.

A microbiome is defined as, "the totality of microorganisms and their collective genetic material present in or on the human body or in another environment." This ecological community consists of bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeasts, and protozoa. Each body site has a distinct microbiome, but the vast majority of the microbiota reside in the GI tract. The precise composition of a physiological microbiome is affected by host diet, age, genetics, exposure to drugs, and other environmental factors. Disrupted microbiomes have been correlated with a number of disease states including obesity, diabetes, asthma, eczema, heart disease, celiac disease, colitis, neuropsychiatric disorders, and some cancers.