Microbiome interactions between human cancers and other pathologies

There are multitudes of microbes that live in and on the human body. We're interested in exploring what changes we see in these communities that are associated with human cancers. Human cancers are incredibly varied, as is the human microbiome. Researchers in the lab are working on wide-ranging projects including evaluations of skin cancers, breast cancers, and colorectal cancers.  

Modulating the Microbiome

It's one thing to identify patterns in the microbiome that track with a disease or something going wrong. But what then? How can we shift the microbiome or push it back into a normal state? Researchers in the lab are testing dozens of different common dietary compounds, pharmaceuticals, and environmental agents for their ability to alter the human gut microbiome to answer this question.

Science Communication and Community Outreach

We are currently facing some of the most consequential changes to our way of life and to civilization generally. Our ability to respond to global pandemics, climate change, antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, bioterrorism, and a host of other threats depends on collective responses. Recent events have highlighted glaring deficiencies in our ability to do so. There are several projects in the lab focused on community outreach and science communication to address this challenge. 

Dr. Burns is a cancer molecular geneticist, bioinformaticist, metagenomics expert, educator, and science communicator leading a team of scientists to work on projects related to these topics.

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You can find Dr. Burns' publications here.