國立中央大學黃俊銘教授與台北榮民總醫院吳俊穎教授主持的台灣人類微生物組體產學小聯盟 (Taiwan Human Microbiome Alliance; THMA) 將會提供從皮膚和腸道分離的不同的人類益生菌、各種益生質 (prebiotics)，又稱為選擇性發酵元 (selective fermentation initiators; SFIs)、篩選與合成新型的益生質、次世代定序分析和微生物組體代謝物的分析，將微生物組體的研究知識銜接到業界，並將台灣微生物組體的研究與發展連結到全世界。THMA的獨特之處包括：1) 能讓THMA會員與全球共享微生物組體資源；2) 本計畫第一期將結合現有的皮膚與腸胃道益生菌銀行，然後在第二期整合其他領域的益生菌；3) 提供益生菌/益生質篩選、鑑定和分析的平台；4) 提供驗證臨床微生物功能的資源；以及5) 整合台灣的學界與產業界並連結到全世界。目前已經有10多家公司表示願意成為THMA的會員。黃教授(PI)與吳教授(co-PI)將於2019年在台灣舉辦國際微生物組體會議 (第五屆微生物組體研發與商業合作大會：亞洲)，預期將會為THMA帶來許多國際會員的加入。THMA的目標包括：1) 將微生物組體之研究商業化；2) 增強台灣微生物組體產業的發展；3) 串聯台灣的微生物組體產業與海外其他微生物組體聯盟。如果成功，THMA將成為第一個由科技部支持的微生物組體機構，擁有可做為商業化的數百種益生菌及其相對應的益生質和代謝物。 ;Taiwan Human Microbiome Alliance (THMA) led by Chair Professor Huang Eric (Chun-Ming) at National Central University and Professor Wu Chun-Ying, at Taipei Veterans General Hospital will provide the human probiotic bacteria isolated from skin and gut, various prebiotics (also named as selective fermentation initiators/SFIs), platforms for screening and synthesizing novel prebiotics/SFIs, analysis of next-generation sequences (NGS) and microbiome metabolites, knowledge at translation of microbiome research to industry, and connection of microbiome R&D in Taiwan to entire world. The uniqueness of THMA includes 1) allowing THMA to share microbiome resources with worldwide; 2) combining two existing skin and gut probiotic banks in Phase I before integrating other probiotic bacteria isolated from oral/nasal cavities in Phase II of this proposal; 3) offering platforms for probiotic/prebiotic screening, identification and analysis; 4) providing resources to validate the microbiome function in clinic; and 5) linking academics to industries from Taiwan to overseas. More than ten companies in Taiwan have expressed their willingness to become THMA members. Professors Huang (PI) and Wu (co-PI) will host an international microbiome meeting (5th Microbiome R&D and Business Collaboration congress: Asia) 2019 in Taiwan, which will bring many international members as expected. The goals of THMA include 1) translating microbiome research to industry; 2) boosting microbiome industry in Taiwan; and 3) associating Taiwan microbiome with other microbiome alliances overseas. If successful, the THAM will become the first MOST-supported microbiome organization which carry hundreds of probiotic bacteria and their corresponding prebiotics and metabolites for commercialization.
