Gut bacteria as immunotherapy

The bacteria in our intestinal microbiome are part of our immune system – a fact Michael Scharl and his team
aim to exploit.

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In and on our body live countless bacteria, viruses and fungi that are crucial to our survival. In their entirety, they form our microbiome. These tiny organisms perform different tasks in our body: they supply it with vitamins, keep pathogens at bay, and play a key role in regulating the immune system. Most microbes are found in our intestines and contribute to our immune system.

This is where Michael Scharl and his team want to start. They have already been able to show in animal models that certain bacteria act against colon cancer cells. Building on these findings, Scharl now wants to create further immunotherapies for coronary heart disease and malignant tumors such as skin and lung cancer. One approach he’s taking is using the established technique of stool transplantation to identify bacteria that are key to the immune response. The advantage is that patients already benefit directly during his research.

Michael Scharl is working with various experts from the University Hospital Zurich (USZ), the University of Zurich, and ETH Zurich. Once the relevant bacteria have been identified, drugs will be developed for market in cooperation with companies.

Together with funding partners, we would like to support the promising project of Michael Scharl and his team to realise this great vision.

10% financed