The human gut microbiome functions as a vital organ, playing a central role in physiology and health. Increasingly, we understand how central its role is in nutrition and metabolism, endocrine regulation, immune system development, as well as its links to neurological, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes. From birth through age two, an infant’s gut microbiome is reshaping itself almost daily. Today, this developing system faces more pressures than ever, as pregnancies and early childhoods are exposed to factors that may disrupt healthy microbiome formation and resilience.
Wellcome Leap’s new $50 million FORM program aims to identify how these growing early-life pressures may contribute to neurodevelopmental challenges including autism spectrum disorder. The goal is to develop scalable methods to protect, preserve and restore the maternal and infant gut microbiome – especially the core functions that guide neurodevelopment in key developmental windows during pregnancy and early infancy.
Abstract application steps.
Upload your proposal and submit your application before 29 December at 11:59pm ET.
Foundations of a Resilient Microbiome (FORM)
The human gut microbiome functions as a vital organ, playing a central role in physiology and health. Increasingly, we understand how central its role is in nutrition and metabolism, endocrine regulation, immune system development, as well as its links to neurological, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes. From birth through age two, an infant’s gut microbiome is reshaping itself almost daily. Today, this developing system faces more pressures than ever, as pregnancies and early childhoods are exposed to factors that may disrupt healthy microbiome formation and resilience.
Wellcome Leap’s new $50 million FORM program aims to identify how these growing early-life pressures may contribute to neurodevelopmental challenges including autism spectrum disorder. The goal is to develop scalable methods to protect, preserve and restore the maternal and infant gut microbiome – especially the core functions that guide neurodevelopment in key developmental windows during pregnancy and early infancy.
Abstract application steps.
Upload your proposal and submit your application before 29 December at 11:59pm ET.