APC Microbiome Ireland SFI Research Centre explores the role that microbes (microbiome) play in health and disease.  The microbiome is a target for the prevention and treatment of disease, it is also a source of functional food ingredients, new drugs and disease biomarkers.

One of the world’s leading institutes in gut microbiome research, APC Microbiome Ireland is receiving €80 million in SFI, industry and other non-exchequer funding across 2019-2025.  It hosts a diverse group of clinicians and scientists working in teams and sharing ideas and resources.

Research Areas

• Discovery of molecules for therapeutics and functional foods
• Designing functional ingredients/foods across the lifespan
• Links between diet, microbes and mental health
• Signalling, host immune-inflammatory responses
• Phage as regulators of the microbiome in health and disease

Research Programmes

APC Microbiome Ireland SFI Research Centre’s 300+ researchers include global research leaders in food/pharma areas, such as gastroenterology, microbiology, immunology, neuroscience, nutrition, neonatology, gerontology, cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Academic Partners

• University College Cork
• Teagasc
• Cork Institute of Technology
• NUI Galway

Industry and Commercialisation

The APC team has extensive experience collaborating with the food, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and diagnostic sectors and welcomes new industry partnerships.

APC Microbiome Ireland’s industry partners can access technology platforms, extensive databases and biobanks, as well as the expertise of its investigators.

Current industry partners include:

Technology Platforms

• Culture collection
• Next generation sequencing
• BioIT
• Pre-clinical and germ-free
• Human studies
• Flow cytometry

Education and Public Engagement

EPE is an integral part of APC Microbiome Ireland’s strategy and is informed by research on public perception and understanding of microbiome science and by government policy.  The goals of our EPE programme are to foster awareness and interest in microbiome science amongst the general public and to train APC researchers to effectively communicate their research to a wide variety of audiences.  

APC Microbiome Ireland SFI Research Centre researchers engage with the community through three core programmes: Education, Early Intervention, and Engaged Research, with a focus on Citizen Science.  Underpinned by evidence-based design and targeted communications, the APC’s approach to EPE is focused and strategic. Programmes are planned, implemented and evaluated to maximise the societal impact of our research.