The U.S. White House released an announcement regarding a new National Microbiome Initiative worth $121 million, which aims to study microscopic organisms that are thriving in the environment including in human bodies, which all adds up to significant health impacts, food security and global climate. 

Like Us on Facebook

Prior to this, the U.S. government already invested more than $900 million from 2012 to 2014 for microbiome research and development. Now, another $120 million will be invested for federal funded research on top pf $400 million received from private groups.

For this massive microbiome project, 160 organizations will be actively participating from NASA, the Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project's aim is to not only study the microbiome, but to also pinpoint how this community of microorganisms living amongst us can impact our body weight, and how they help us to basically breathe and live.

According to White House associate director for Science and Technology, Jo Handelsman, this will fully change the future of the microbiome. The government agencies, departments, private organizations and foundations will bring about experts from scientists to researchers to reveal pivotal new information about the environment and our health such as how the marine ecosystem changes after an oil spill, the impacts of climate change and how it brings about more allergies, including the tiny changes that can lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma, according to White House officials. 

According to New York University's director for the Human Microbiome Project, Martin Blaser, microbes touch and affect everything inside the biosphere. This new research can provide a new area of research that can affect the life and health of future generations.

Blaser adds that this micro approach can now finally answer many health and environmental issues that have evaded scientists for a long time, however, this will not happen in one day. He says that this is a scientific frontier, where it is important to develop tools and experimental systems that are all needed for analysis.

TagsUS, White House, national microbiome initiative, microbiome