"...it would appear to be a pointless and doubtful exercise to examine and disentangle the apparently random appearing bacteria in normal feces and the intestinal tract, a situation that seems controlled by a thousand coincidences... Yet I have nevertheless devoted myself now for a year virtually exclusively to this special study, it was with the conviction that the accurate knowledge of these conditions is essential, for the understanding of not only the physiology of digestion..., but also the pathology and therapy of microbial intestinal diseases."
--Theodor Escherich (1888)

Nearly 130 years later, our research group shares the dedication of Theodor Escherich as we try to understand the role of the gut microbiota in Clostridium difficile infections and the progression of colorectal cancer. Since Escherich found the causative agent for diarrhea, what we now call E. coli, a lot has happened in science. We now have a far better understanding of microbiology, molecular biology, ecology, evolutionary theory, and statistics. Our research group is dedicated to integrating across disciplines to advance our knowledge of the role of the microbiome in human health. Human microbiome research is experiencing an amazing period of growth and we are helping to lead that effort.