Inaugural Microbiome Accelerator Program Awards Microbial Innovation Targeting GI Cancers, Vaginitis, Childhood Pneumonia, and Obesity
Nature Awards and Seed Health announce first cohort advancing microbial technologies for critical health challenges
London | New York | Berlin, 03 December 2024
The first Microbiome Accelerator, in partnership between microbiome science company Seed Health and Nature Awards, part of Springer Nature, has successfully concluded. The programme is designed to fast-track groundbreaking microbiome research into practical health solutions, providing grants and expert mentorship, and culminating in an immersive residential experience in London.
Following a competitive global selection process, four pioneering research teams were chosen for their innovative microbial technologies addressing critical health challenges:
- Chris Johnston, MD Anderson Cancer Center, US: For his team’s work developing microbial cellular therapies targeting gastrointestinal cancers.
- Hui Wei, Nanjing University, China: For his team’s work innovating a probiotic nanozyme hydrogel for Candida therapy, with potential applications for vaginal infections.
- Ritika Kar Bahal and Mark Nicol, University of Western Australia, Australia: For their research proposing an intranasal live biotherapeutic to inhibit pneumonia-associated pathogens in young children.
- Neil Surana, Duke University School of Medicine, US: For his team’s work advancing live biotherapeutics for a broad range of gastrointestinal diseases.
Each team received a $10,000 grant to support the commercialization of their research, along with guidance and hands-on support from commercialization experts, microbiome leaders, Springer Nature editors, and cross-functional representatives from Seed Health.
Speaking on the accelerator, Richard Hughes, VP Publishing, Nature, commented:
“These four outstanding teams now have solid development plans co-created with commercialization experts with deep microbiome knowledge. We wish them success in the implementation of plans in the coming years. We at Nature are privileged to get early eyes on the best innovations emerging from labs around the world. We are committed to connecting transformative ideas with practitioners and industry partners, like Seed Health, who can accelerate solutions to health challenges.”
Speaking on this year’s finalists, Raja Dhir, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Seed Health, commented:
“This year’s cohort demonstrates the extraordinary potential of microbiome science to address some of the most pressing health challenges of our time. Through the Microbiome Accelerator, we’ve worked to provide not only funding and mentorship but also a bridge between discovery and impact—ensuring that these innovations are grounded in rigorous science and positioned to make a meaningful difference in human health.”
The four-day residential provided specialized training and one-to-one clinics with experts across a range of disciplines spanning discovery to go-to-market strategy. The Microbiome Accelerator represents a new standard for supporting the translation of microbiome research into impactful health applications while maintaining scientific rigour.
Speaking on his experience during the residential, Neil Surana added: “The ability to meet with experts, to get one-on-one consultations and advice, as well as the impact on how I now think about my own research programme, both in an academic sense but also in moving forward for commercialization, has been transformative.”
These awards are part of the suite of Nature Awards, which collectively seek to provide a platform for all researchers to be able to share, celebrate and communicate their work, raising awareness of the role of science in driving integral global issues forward. More on the awards programme can be found here.
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Judging
All applicants were evaluated by a panel of commercial and scientific experts based on the following metrics:
The originality and quality of the underpinning science.
A commercially attractive and appropriate solution to address a health need.
Potential to build an appropriate IP portfolio to enable commercialisation.
Successful market adoption has the potential to deliver meaningful human health benefits.
Aspiration to explore the commercial potential of the research and capability to pursue translation.
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