Microbial Life

The second episode of the Genomics Futures podcast focuses on microbial genomics!Genomics has revolutionised how we study disease and health - from global pathogens to the human microbiome. Yet major gaps remain.This episode covers a few key topics, including:Critiquing the "global" in global health: should we remove the word "global" from global health? To prioritises local research agency and needs.The microbiome as a finite resource: Western lifestyles and the heavy use of antimicrobials are eroding the human microbiome, which is a precious resource essential for digestion and disease protection.Domesticating genomic education: True equity in 2050 will require the domestication of scientific training, allowing local researchers in the Global South to lead genomic centres and interpret data through their own cultural and regional lenses.The vision of digital twins: While "digital twins" of infection offer exciting predictive possibilities, they currently lack the representative data from diverse populations and sustainable infrastructure needed to be viable.This episode includes interviews with: Professor Nick Thomson, Head of the Parasites and Microbes Programme at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, and Dr Claire Chewapreecha, researcher at the Mahidol Oxford Research Unit in Thailand. Dr Senjuti Saha, researcher at the Child Health Research Foundation in Bangladesh and with Professor Iruka Okeke, Professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, who discussed the concept of Global Health. Dr Charles Agoti researcher at the KEMRI Research Centre in Kilifi, Kenya, and Dr Sophie Bellman researcher at the supercomputing Centre in Barcelona, Spain, dived into the concept of digital twins and sustainability in the future of genomics research. Lastly, we spoke about the future of microbiome research with Professor Alejandro Reyes at the University of Los Andes in Colombia.Mentioned in the episode:The Foreign Gaze: Essays on Global Health – A series of essays by Seye AbimbolaDigital twin – a virtual replica of a biological entity or process. It can use real-time data to simulate, predict and optimise outcomes.25 years on from the release of the first draft of the human genome, the Genomics Futures podcast series explores what the future of genomics will be like in 2050.Across 6 episodes, we explore the themes and topics that arose from discussions that took place during the Genomics Futures workshops, hosted by the Wellcome Sanger Institute and Wellcome in 2025.The aim of these podcasts is not to showcase definitive thoughts, but to explore the possibilities of genomics in twenty five years’ time, hence why some speakers may contradict each other. The views expressed in these podcasts are of the speakers alone.Further information about the workshops including further outputs can be found here: https://www.sanger.ac.uk/innovation/sanger-genomics-futures-series/This podcast is produced by the Wellcome Sanger Institute.