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Biosecurity News in Brief
NIH Announces U.S. Participation in International Human Microbiome ConsortiumBy Kunal Rambhia, October 27, 2008 On October 16, 2008, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that it will participate in the newly established International Human Microbiome Consortium (IHMC). The purpose of the consortium is to sequence and study the genomes of all microorganisms that live in or on the human body. Scientists from around the world will collect and share data in an effort to understand the role that these microorganisms play in human health and disease. Participation in the consortium is voluntary and includes North American, European, Asian, and Australian partners. Each participating group will study different body sites and diseases. Current research indicates that microbes in the human body may influence diabetes, asthma, obesity, and some digestive conditions. In September, the European Commission and the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) signed a letter of intent to collaborate on a similar human microbiome project, the results of which will be the first contributions of data to the IHMC.1 The consortium will also maintain standards for quality assurance, coordination of genome sequencing projects, and issues related to data access and informed consent. References
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