Funding Source: National Institutes of Health – The trillions of microbes inhabiting our bodies are essential for extracting nutrients from our food to maintaining the health of our immune systems. There is a growing recognition that the microbiome is directly linked to the health and development of infants and children. Research in our lab and in collaboration with several universities and research centers across the country brings together the gut microbiome, human genetics, nutrition, and cognitive development to improve our understanding of environmental influences on health outcomes in children. The longitudinal study follows over 1000 children between the ages of 0 to 12 years. As such, the study provides an ideal system for investigating the relationships among microbes, their resilience and stability, and their interactions with the human body.