The International Human Microbiome Consortium (IHMC)

The Scientific Director of III serves as the Canadian representative on the International Human Microbiome Consortium (IHMC).  IHMC's initial focus will be to coordinate research efforts internationally and generate a shared comprehensive data resource available to investigators working in this area. The goals of the IHMC are to: generate a shared resource of human microbiome data and protocols; coordinate international efforts to reduce redundancy; and provide a venue for exchange of results and strategies. Currently, US$250 million has been committed to the IHMC from around the globe, including $10 million from Canada.

Current participants in the IHMC include:

• Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
• Canada: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
• China: Human Gut Microbiome and Infections
• China: Ministry of Science and Technology
• Europe: European Commission
• France: National Agency for Research (INRA)
• Ireland: the DAFF/HRB elderly gut metagenomics project ELDERMET
• Japan: Human Metagenome Consortium Japan (HMGJ)
• South Korea: Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs
• United States: National Institutes of Health