Program for Innovative Microbiome and Translational Research
Jennifer Wargo, M.D., MMSc
Program Director
Nadim Ajami, Ph.D.
Executive Director for Scientific Research
The focus of the Program for Innovative
Microbiome and Translational Research (PRIME-TR) is to enable and
support high impact microbiome-based profiling and interventional
trials with the goal of understanding microbe-host interactions in the
context of cancer onset, progression and response to treatment.
PRIME-TR aims to position MD Anderson as a pioneer in transforming cancer therapy through the modulation of the human microbiome.
The mission of PRIME-TR is to build a robust framework that enables
a concerted effort for translational research by leveraging existing
resources at our institution and by developing programs and
relationships to support novel translational applications in the
microbiome space. Our ultimate goal is to improve prevention,
diagnosis and treatment strategies for cancer patients and the
population at-risk. Succeeding at this vision would result in the
ability of preventing and treating a wider population via novel and
better strategies based on microbiome applications.
Project Design: Design of sample and metadata collection strategies to enable microbiome exploration protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Execution: Integration with cores and resources for sample collection, data generation and data analysis.
Analysis & Interpretation: Dedicated bioinformatics methods for microbiome exploration and biostatistics.
Cross-validation: Iterative experiments and analyses to cross-validate hypotheses and findings.
Clinical Translation: Design of cohort and interventional trials. Network of academic and industry Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs).
Contact
Email: primetr@mdanderson.org
Jennifer Wargo, M.D., M.M.Sc.
Program Director
Nadim Ajami, Ph.D.
Executive Director for Scientific Research
Christine Diaz
Program Manager