What if balancing the vaginal microbiome could prevent recurrent infections and improve health? 

We are developing a novel class of bacterial therapies to address a major underserved women’s health problem. The vaginal microbiome is a fundamental determinant of women’s health. It contains a multitude of bacterial viruses, also known as phages, which can drive disease and prevent the efficacy of novel bacterial therapies. Despite its importance, this ecosystem has remained understudied, thus hampering the development of new therapies. To overcome this, we have developed an innovative platform using advanced tools to (i) identify viruses in the vaginal tract, and (ii) harness native immune systems in bacteria to develop a new class of bacterial therapies that have viral immunity. Our goal is to develop novel therapies to treat bacterial vaginosis, which is strongly associated with preterm birth, sexually transmitted infections, and infertility. 

Topic 6: Revolutionary Breakthroughs