INITIATIVE VISION:

Through its research and educational outreach, the UCR Microbiome Initiative is part of the National Microbiome Initiative which is advancing microbiome science in ways that will benefit individuals, communities and the planet.

The motivation for this initiative here at the University of California, Riverside is to catalyze and bring together UCR’s talent working on microbiome related research. There is a big effort at UCR on understanding microbiome, the interaction between microbial communities and a host (plant, insect, worm, mammals) and/or the environment.  UCR have ongoing programs and activities but faculty working on this topic are spread across many departments and colleges - College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), School of Medicine (SOM) and Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE).

INITIATIVE GOALS:

To facilitate integration, to help people find each other and collaborate, to better use and share resources among labs, enhance infrastructures and to create training activities for students.

"This could be a very useful template for future events to help jumpstart the interdisciplinary interactions among faculty that are the strength of UCR,” said Divisional Dean of Life Sciences, Frances M. Sladek. "Faculty in attendance found common ground that will lead to additional workshops, joint projects and grants."