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Microbe-Microbe and Microbe-Host Interactions Relevant to the Skin Microbiome

Award Number: F31AT012837
ORGANIZATION: CENTER FOR DRUG EVALUATION AND RESEARCH, NIH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2025
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/08/2025
AWARD TERMINATION DATE: 07/28/2026

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Microbe-Microbe and Microbe-Host Interactions Relevant to the Skin Microbiome - PROJECT SUMMARY The human skin microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health, and dysbiosis of this system is associated with increased incidence of disease. Probiotics purported to contain beneficial bacteria are increasingly being used in skincare products, but the rationale for their application to the skin surface is lacking. To develop effective probiotics, an improved understanding of the composition, function, and interactions of the human skin microbiome is needed. The most common class of bacteria that comprises the healthy skin microbiome is coagulase-negative staphylococci, but their role in maintaining skin health is not well understood. Our preliminary data indicate that a common skin commensal, Staphylococcus hominis, produces a bacteriocin that exhibits antimicrobial activity against other commensal skin bacteria. The first goal of this project is to elucidate the structure and biosynthetic mechanisms of the bacteriocin. Additionally, we aim to investigate the role of S. hominis bacteriocins and other S. hominis metabolites in mediating interactions between microbes and eliciting host responses. Overall, this study aims to advance our understanding of the chemical and biological interactions between the commensal bacteria and host cells, with the potential to inform the future development of probiotics for maintaining skin health. The fellowship training plan, which will be carried out in a graduate program that emphasizes research in natural products and integrative medicine, will augment the trainee’s skills in mass spectrometry metabolomics, natural products isolation and structure elucidation, and will provide her an opportunity to gain new skills in microbiology and microbiome research. The training plan has been tailored to the specific planned career trajectory of the trainee, which is to become an independent researcher and secure an academic position. The training will be conducted under the guidance of Dr. Nadja Cech (sponsor) and Dr. Alexander Horswill (co-sponsor), both of whom have extensive experience mentoring students who have gone on to tenured professorships. The project aligns with the mission of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), contributing to public health by providing insights that could inform the development of skin probiotics.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = -$13,442 )
2026	2025	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO	1000 SPRING GARDEN ST	GREENSBORO	NC	27412	GUILFORD	USA	Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health	001	1	8/21/2026	TERMINATION	-$1,790
2026	2025	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO	1000 SPRING GARDEN ST	GREENSBORO	NC	27412	GUILFORD	USA	Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health	000	1	7/28/2026	TERMINATION	-$11,652
														Subtotal = -$13,442

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $36,330 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO	1000 SPRING GARDEN ST	GREENSBORO	NC	27412	GUILFORD	USA	Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health	000	1	12/19/2024	NEW	$35,766
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO	1000 SPRING GARDEN ST	GREENSBORO	NC	27412	GUILFORD	USA	Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health	002	1	8/22/2025	NEW	$564
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO	1000 SPRING GARDEN ST	GREENSBORO	NC	27412	GUILFORD	USA	Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health	001	1	2/3/2025	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $36,330

Grand Total All Awards = $22,888

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Microbe-Microbe and Microbe-Host Interactions Relevant to the Skin Microbiome

Award Number: F31AT012837

ORGANIZATION: CENTER FOR DRUG EVALUATION AND RESEARCH, NIH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2025

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/08/2025

AWARD TERMINATION DATE: 07/28/2026

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