title: An assessment of US microbiome research.
abstract: Genome-enabled technologies have supported a dramatic increase in our ability to study microbial communities in environments and hosts. Taking stock of previously funded microbiome research can help to identify common themes, under-represented areas and research priorities to consider moving forward. To assess the status of US microbiome research, a team of government scientists conducted an analysis of federally funded microbiome research. Microbiomes were defined as host-, ecosystem- or habitat-associated communities of microorganisms, and microbiome research was defined as those studies that emphasize community-level analyses using 'omics technologies. Single pathogen, single strain and culture-based studies were not included, except symbiosis studies that served as models for more complex communities. Fourteen governmental organizations participated in the data call. The analysis examined three broad research themes, eight environments and eight microbial categories. Human microbiome research was larger than any other environment studied, and the basic biology research theme accounted for half of the total research activities. Computational biology and bioinformatics, reference databases and biorepositories, standardized protocols and high-throughput tools were commonly identified needs. Longitudinal and functional studies and interdisciplinary research were also identified as needs. This study has implications for the funding of future microbiome research, not only in the United States but beyond.
authors: Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, 1650 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20504, USA.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Stulberg
authors: United States Department of Agriculture, Plant Health, Crop Production and Protection, Agricultural Research Service, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Fravel
authors: Department of Health and Human Services, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 5635 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors: Lita M
authors: LM
authors: Proctor
authors: Office of Disease Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 6100 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA.
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Murray
authors: Department of Health and Human Services, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 5635 Fishers Lane, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: LoTempio
authors: Department of Defense, Office of Naval Research, 875 N. Randolph Street, Arlington, Virginia 22205-1995, USA.
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Chrisey
authors: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research &Development, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268, USA.
authors: Jay
authors: J
authors: Garland
authors: Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division, Atlantic Oceanographic &Meteorological Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149, USA.|Stationed at NOAA, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors: Kelly
authors: K
authors: Goodwin
authors: US Department of Energy, Office of Biological &Environmental Research, 1000 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585, USA.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Graber
authors: Department of the Interior, Ecosystems Mission Area, United States Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA.
authors: M Camille
authors: MC
authors: Harris
authors: Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA.
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Jackson
authors: Physiological and Structural Systems Cluster, Integrative Organismal Systems, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Mishkind
authors: NASA Life and Physical Sciences, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 300 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20546, USA.
authors: D Marshall
authors: DM
authors: Porterfield
authors: Office of Agriculture, Research and Policy, Bureau for Food Security, US Agency for International Development, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20523, USA.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Records
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D058448:Biota; D002202:Capital Financing; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D056186:Metagenomics / Q000379:methods; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000592:standards; D008829:Microbiology / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States