Welcome to the OHMR, where our mission is to promote healthy lives for our pets and their owners through science! Cats, dogs, and humans harbor distinct communities of microscopic organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and archaea) in and on their bodies. We refer to these communities, and their collective genetic material, as the microbiome. The microbiome is important for host health, facilitating key processes such as digestion and immunity. Conversely, certain changes to the microbiome are associated with disease. Understanding the role of the microbiome in pet health will help us leverage it as a diagnostic tool and inform how to reprogram the microbiome to a healthy state through interactions with food or medications.

The OHMR, formed by researchers from the Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., investigates the companion animal microbiome using advanced experimental protocols and computational methods. Through metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metabolomics, and by leveraging knowledge of the human microbiome, we study the microbial communities of cats and dogs to understand their roles in pet health and disease. Our expertise and the data we generate will support future companion animal research in metabolism, disease, and immunity. Learn more here about how we are working towards improving the health of our pets!