Vision

PreMiEr’s vision is to develop an integrated framework for enabling the development of high impact microbiome technologies that provide innovative solutions to key societal challenges at the interface of human health and the built environment. In particular, PreMiEr will advance microbiome technologies by developing diagnostic tools and engineering approaches that lead to the prevention of infectious agents’ colonization and the promotion of beneficial microorganisms in the built environment.

Scope

Researchers in PreMiEr will achieve their goals through cross-disciplinary efforts using the latest technologies in genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic technologies to study the microbial “dark matter” that colonizes the built environment, develop sensors and other technologies to monitor and modify those communities, and create sophisticated computer models to help predict the outcomes of changes to the built environment microbiome and drive beneficial health outcomes.

Impact

PreMiEr seeks to help identify not only what might make a built environment microbiome harmful to inhabitants, but also hopes to identify organisms, metabolites, or other factors that lead to positive health outcomes. Our ultimate goal is to create biologically safe indoor spaces for everyone. The findings of this center could ultimately lead to recommendations for building design, construction, or operation in order to promote the proliferation of healthy microorganisms in man-made structures.