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As many as 1,000 different species of bacteria make their homes inside or on humans. Yet, we have had little understanding of their role in human health and disease. New scientific techniques have created an explosion of knowledge about these microorganisms, collectively called the microbiome, and have initiated one of the fastest growing areas of biology research today.  
A program from the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) called Humans & the Microbiome examines the human microbiome, the role it plays in human health and development, and its long-term effects on our evolution and society. Through this unique interdisciplinary approach, the program will shed new light on broad issues of human health, such as healthy aging, human development and the effects of diet and drug treatments. The program will also delve into how the microbiome has interacted with human evolution and cultural and societal practices.  
The program has held a series of meetings focused on five themes around the area of the microbiome: 1) early life, 2) aging, 3) brain development, 4) the anthropological effects and 5) human evolution. To date, the program has supported 23 fellow, advisors, and global scholars, representing 19 institutions in 8 countries, with resulting outcomes that truly benefited from this unique approach to interdisciplinary research.