Building Connections: Highlights from the BCMM Retreat



Our annual BCMM Retreat at the Chaminade Resort and Spa in Santa Cruz, CA, was a resounding success, bringing together 70 participants for an inspiring and productive event. The retreat provided a unique opportunity to exchange cutting-edge research, foster collaborations, and enjoy a variety of community-building activities. The program featured a keynote lecture by Dr. Suzanne Devkota, whose work focuses on the interplay between the gut microbiome, diet, and human health. The retreat also included guest lectures by BCMM alumni Drs. Joel Babdor and Margaret Alexander, who presented their current work but also led a discussion with trainees on the transition from postdoc to faculty positions. They shared invaluable advice on navigating the early stages of launching a new lab, including the dos and don’ts critical to success.

In addition to the scientific sessions, retreat attendees had the chance to participate in organized pickleball and dodgeball tournaments during the afternoon, fostering camaraderie and teamwork. The evening reception offered a relaxed atmosphere for networking and discussions, while the poster session showcased the cutting-edge research being conducted within our community. The BCMM congratulates the winners of the poster competition:

Taylor Halsey (Turnbaugh lab) - 1st place (postdoc)

Rafaella Shima (Turnbaugh lab) - 1st place (grad student)

Lea Twicken (Nayak lab) - 1st place (staff)


Rebecca Knoll (Lynch lab) - 2nd place (postdoc)

Mikaela Matera-Vatnick (Turnbaugh lab) - 2nd place (grad student)

Punit Sundaramurthy (Lynch lab) - 2nd place (staff)



Reflecting on the retreat’s tremendous success, we are thrilled to announce that planning for our next retreat is already underway. Stay tuned for updates on what’s to come.

BCMM welcomes 12 summer undergraduate interns

This summer, BCMM labs are hosting 12 talented undergraduate interns, each bringing enthusiasm, creativity, and curiosity to the field of microbiome research. Over the summer, these students will immerse themselves in a variety of impactful research projects, gaining hands-on experience and working alongside BCMM faculty, researchers, and staff to advance our understanding of microbial communities and their roles in human health.

The interns will contribute to research initiatives across several BCMM labs and facilities, including the Ott Lab, Lynch Lab, Johnson Lab, Turnbaugh Lab, Upadhyay Lab, Scharschmidt Lab, Torgerson Lab, and Roan Lab, as well as the BCMM Genomics & Microbial Culturing Facility. Under the mentorship of lab personnel, the interns will acquire valuable technical skills, engage in data analysis, and participate in discussions designed to foster their growth and development.

At BCMM, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of scientists, innovators, and leaders in microbiome medicine. Hosting summer interns gives junior researchers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research while exploring career paths in science and medicine. By collaborating with BCMM’s researchers, these students will gain firsthand experience in a dynamic and collaborative scientific environment.

Celebrating BCMM excellence: Katrina Abuabara and Tiffany Scharschmidt receive 2026 ARCHES awards

We are incredibly proud to share that two of our very own BCMM members, Katrina Abuabara, MD and Tiffany Scharschmidt, MD, are among this year's cohort of ten outstanding UCSF faculty members who were recently selected as recipients of the prestigious 2026 ARCHES Mid-Career Development Awards.

The ARCHES program is a robust, two-year initiative designed for research faculty who aren't just exceptional scientists, but also outstanding mentors. It specifically recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a deep commitment to UCSF's PRIDE Values and Principles of Community. By providing protected time, dedicated mentorship, and a collaborative network, the program invests in faculty at pivotal stages of their careers to help them expand their leadership and accelerate their research. Both Katrina and Tiffany, representing the School of Medicine's Department of Dermatology, embody exactly what this award stands for. Their dedication to pushing the boundaries of biomedical discovery while actively uplifting the next generation of researchers makes this recognition incredibly well-deserved.

BCMM publishes annual impact report

The Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine (BCMM) is proud to share its 2026 impact report, showcasing key achievements and growth in microbiome science over the past year. Highlights include:

• Groundbreaking Biotherapeutics: Research originating from the Lynch Lab led to STMC-103H, a live biotherapeutic that reduces the risk of atopic dermatitis by 64% and food allergies by 77% in high-risk infants, revolutionizing disease prevention.
• Expanded Infrastructure: BCMM invested in state-of-the-art facilities like the new Quantitative Metabolite Analysis Center (QMAC) and cutting-edge tools like the Thermo Orbitrap Exploris 240 GCMS, advancing metabolomics and microbiome research capacity.
• Growing Community: BCMM welcomed 41 new members, bringing total membership to over 200 researchers, and produced 54 microbiome-related publications, reflecting strong interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Training Future Leaders: New programs, including grant-writing workshops, technology access initiatives, and hands-on sequencing training, empower researchers to lead impactful microbiome studies.



BCMM’s progress underscores its commitment to transforming microbiome science into medicine. Thank you to our donors for your continued support in advancing this vital work!

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