The Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research at Baylor College of Medicine is led by Professor Joseph Petrosino. The Center focuses on the study of how microbially encoded functions influence host health and disease.  Using humans and pre-clinical models, the Center is developing new means to study and test host-microbe interactions and translate these findings to the clinic for better diagnostics and therapeutics. Main interests include functional microbial genomics and interactions of the commensal microbiota with host. The goal is to utilize these technologies in the HEDIMED cohorts in collaboration with other partners.