Vaibhav Upadhyay, MD PhD, joins BCMM as Assistant Professor in Residence

We are thrilled to welcome Vaibhav Upadhyay to BCMM as an Assistant Professor in Residence within the UCSF Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, and Sleep Medicine. Vaibhav’s lab will be located within BCMM on HSE11, alongside the labs of Drs. Zlitni, Hernandez, and Wilder, as well as our BCMM technology hubs.

Siolta Therapeutics: Transforming Allergic Disease Prevention Through Microbial Biotherapeutics

Atopic diseases like eczema, asthma, and food allergies impact over 20% of children in the U.S., yet no treatments exist to prevent them. UCSF spinout Siolta Therapeutics, co-founded by Drs. Nikole Kimes and Susan Lynch of BCMM, is tackling this challenge with early-life gut microbiome-based therapies.

Building on groundbreaking research from the Lynch Lab, Siolta’s lead therapeutic candidate, STMC-103H, recently showed promising results in a Phase 2 clinical trial (ADORED). Infants treated with STMC-103H experienced significant reductions in risk for atopic dermatitis (64%) and food allergies (77%) compared to placebo groups.

Siolta’s work highlights the transformative potential of microbiome-targeted interventions to prevent disease, setting a new standard in neonatal and pediatric medicine.

Read the full article here.

Symposium Spotlight: Engineering Microbiomes

On February 3rd, we hosted the annual BCMM symposium, centered on the theme of “Engineering Microbiomes.” This hybrid event included leading experts from across the country, each sharing cutting-edge research and perspectives on harnessing the microbiome for scientific and therapeutic advancements. The program featured a keynote lecture by Dr. Justin Sonnenburg from Stanford and a poster session featuring over 20 microbiome-related posters from trainees and students.

Missed the symposium? Access recordings here.

BCMM Launches Technology Access Credit Program

The UCSF Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine is launching a limited BCMM Technology Access Credit program for use in participating microbiome technology hubs to support the generation of pilot data and proposal-ready figures for upcoming NIH submissions (Cycle II and III).

Credit structure:

• $500 credit for projects between $2K–$5K
• $1,000 credit for projects over $5K
• Credits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis (limit one award per lab)
• BCMM-funded projects are not eligible for credits
• Credits expire June 30, 2026. Awardees should engage the tech hubs no later than April 15^th to generate formal quotes and allow adequate time for projects to be completed.

Participating BCMM technology hubs:

• Microbial Genomics (Dr. Rahim Khan)
• Microbial Culturing (Dr. Rahim Khan)
• Gnotobiotics (Dr. JessieTurnbaugh)
• Computation (Dr. Lu Yang)

This program is intended to help you quickly generate data to strengthen grant applications. Projects should be feasible within a short timeline and aligned with BCMM capabilities.

Apply here: https://airtable.com/appjWOlPBjKpMprf8/shr1gLO0Dc9SCRyie

Applications are intentionally brief and reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early submission, as credits are expected to be allocated quickly.

Scientific Review Program Builds Communication Skills

BCMM launched the “Scientific Review Training Program,” a new initiative funded by the Parnassus Institutes Community Fund and co-organized with ImmunoX and the Diabetes Center. Designed to enhance scientific communication skills among UCSF trainees and research staff, this program reflects BCMM’s commitment to driving initiatives that strengthen research quality and advance science through collaboration and community-building.

The series began with an in-person event focused on manuscript abstract review, followed by two virtual Zoom sessions covering full manuscript review and grant writing. The final event in the series, also held in person, will provide participants with hands-on opportunities to refine their scientific communication in reviewing a "Letter of Intent" while fostering networking within the community.

Through initiatives like this, BCMM continues to empower researchers with the tools to elevate scientific dialogue and collaboration.

Microbiomes Take Center Stage at UCSF Grad Slam

The UCSF Grad Slam is one of the most exciting trainee events of the year, showcasing the incredible research being conducted by our talented graduate students. This year, we’re thrilled to announce that not one, but two BCMM trainees, Mika Matera-Vatnick and Rafaella Shima, have made it to the 2026 UCSF Grad Slam competition!

On April 7, these finalists (both from the Turnbaugh Lab) will take the stage to present their groundbreaking research in just 3 minutes, competing against 8 other PhD candidates for cash prizes and the chance to represent UCSF at the UC systemwide Grad Slam later in April. Join us in cheering on our finalists as they share their discoveries and showcase the power of science communication.

Meet the BCMM finalists:

Register Now

for the

BCMM Annual Research Retreat  

June 25- 26, 2026

Chaminade Resort and Spa

1 Chaminade Ln, Santa Cruz, CA 95065

This event is free to BCMM members. Transportation will be provided.

Register to attend

View here the complete list of upcoming events.