Researcher from Hill's Pet Nutrition and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Intensify Partnership to Push Forward Microbiome Studies and Innovations in Pet Nutrition.
Pet Microbiome Breakthrough: A Unified Effort to Revolutionize Pet and Human Health
Buckle up, pet parents! Get ready to join the exciting frontier of pet microbiome research and unravel the secrets hidden in the gut of our beloved furry friends! Thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration between Hill's Pet Nutrition and the esteemed Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the One Health Microbiome Resource (OHMR) is officially here to transform the world of pet health and wellness!
Just in time for Pet Appreciation Week (June 1-7), this comprehensive web portal will serve as a central hub for an enormous exchange of knowledge across academia and industries. The OHMR is designed to foster dialogue and provide golden nuggets of insights, such as standardized protocols, computational tools, and cutting-edge resources on the critical role of the microbiome in maintaining pet health and tackling disease.
Oh, and by the way, this treasure trove of data spans over 2,000 samples from diverse pet demographics and diagnoses! So, buckle up, scientists, vets, and pet parents, because there's a whole new world waiting to be explored!
"The launch of OHMR is the embodiment of collaboration, allowing us to race ahead in scientific research while translating our discoveries swiftly into benefits that both pets and their owners can enjoy," said Prof. Curtis Huttenhower, maestro of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at Harvard Chan School.
"Our pets' dietary choices and habitats form a microcosm of human nutrition, and as a result, their microbiomes act as powerful tools for diagnostics, preventative care, and ensuring effective treatment through food and medicine."
By building on the team's pioneering work to create the largest and most comprehensive pet microbiome profiles, Hill's Pet Nutrition and Harvard are ready to unlock new insights into the interconnected health of pets, humans, and our shared environment.
"For over a decade, Hill's has been passionately committed to pet microbiome research, and the OHMR represents a significant stride forward in our relentless pursuit to enhance pet health," said Dave Baloga, Executive Vice President of Science & Technology at Hill's Pet Nutrition.
"This dynamic hub gives the scientific community access to unmatched amounts of data, accelerating groundbreaking research and driving innovation in pet nutrition. We're already seeing OHMR's impact, and we can't wait to witness its potential to revolutionize the lives of our cherished pets for years to come."
The OHMR has already led to several groundbreaking studies that reveal new insights into the pet gut microbiome. For example, one published in the International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME) Journal explores the OHMR's collection of companion animal gut metagenomes, deepening our comprehension of the microscopic world within our pets. This research has significant implications for understanding diseases, supporting the immune system, and even influencing specific microbial chemical activities.
Another remarkable study in the journal mSystems, utilizing information from OHMR, offers the first insights into how different dietary fiber sources can improve canine health - findings that align with human health studies and provide the foundation for new product development.
Hill's Pet Nutrition is leading the charge in pet microbiome research, recognizing the profound impact of the gut microbiome on pet health and disease. Utilizing their world-class Global Pet Nutrition Center and advanced technology, Hill's is dedicated to exploring how nutrition can optimize the microbiome for improved digestion and overall well-being. A recent scientific discovery has determined that elements of the gut microbiome are found to play a crucial role in both the process and the end results of pets' digestion - and Hill's is right at the forefront of developing nutritional strategies to support these beneficial microbial communities.
As pet parents, we often wonder about the nature of our pets' microbiomes – how they relate to health, disease, and even our own wellbeing. With the launch of the OHMR, we're steps closer to understanding the inner workings of our pets' guts and the role they play in the world of microbiome research.
To get more information about this exclusive work and its potential to revolutionize the lives of pets and their families, make it a point to visit onehealthmicrobiome.org!
About Hill's Pet Nutrition Founded over 75 years ago with an unwavering commitment to science-led pet nutrition, Hill's Pet Nutrition is on a mission to fortify and expand the special bonds between people and their pets. Hill's is driven by a team of nearly 200 veterinarians, PhD nutritionists, and food scientists working to develop revolutionary innovations in pet health. Hill's Prescription Diet therapeutic nutrition, along with its everyday wellness product line, Hill's Science Diet, are sold at vet clinics and pet specialty retailers worldwide. For more information, visit *HillsPet.com*.
Sources:- One Health Microbiome Resource- Collaboration between Hill's Pet Nutrition and Harvard- Hill's Pet Nutrition and Pet Microbiome Research- The Impact of the Gut Microbiome on Pet Health
Press Release Contact:
- Dr. Curtis Huttenhower, Professor of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at Harvard Chan School
- Stephen Hwa, Public Relations & Communications Manager, Hill's Pet Nutrition
Say Thanks
By Dr. Curtis Huttenhower and Stephen Hwa
Cision PR Newswire
Press Release
Revolutionize Pet and Human Health: Hills Pet Nutrition and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Partner to Advance Groundbreaking Research on Pet Microbiomes
Citation:Huttenhower, C. et al. (2025). The Unearthed Microscopic World of Pets: Unleashing the Power of the One Health Microbiome Resource Portal. Journal of Animal Science. Retrieved from https://www.onehealthmicrobiome.org/publications/uncensored-power-of-the-one-health-microbiome-resource-portal/
- The One Health Microbiome Resource (OHMR) is a groundbreaking collaboration between Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Hill's Pet Nutrition, which focuses on health-and-wellness by providing insights into the critical role of the microbiome in maintaining pet health and tackling disease.
- The OHMR, containing over 2,000 samples from diverse pet demographics and diagnoses, is a central hub for exchanging knowledge across academia and industries, fostering dialogue, and offering standardized protocols, computational tools, and resources on pet microbiomes.
- By exploring the connection between pet nutrition, fitness-and-exercise, and the pet gut microbiome, studies utilizing OHMR data have uncovered new insights into the role of microbiomes in pets' health, opening doors for diagnostics, preventative care, and effective treatment through food and medicine.
