Most people have no idea what microbiome is. Yet, it is one of the most important contributors to our health and wellness.

Simply put, microbiome is all of the microscopic microbes that live on and in our bodies. This includes bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes.

The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has been at the forefront of the emerging research into the importance of microbiome on health and function after spinal cord injury (SCI). With its latest research, UAB aims to look specifically into the impact of gut microbiome on metabolic and bowel function during the first year after SCI.

“There’s typically slower intestinal movement of waste after SCI that leads to leakage of bile and harmful bacteria into the bloodstream,” says Jereme Wilroy, Ph.D., principal investigator and assistant professor in the Department. “Harmful bacteria in the blood can damage the body’s organs and lead to metabolic disorders and associated complications like obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, all conditions that people with chronic SCI are at an increased for developing.”

For the study, patients will be enrolled in the first few weeks after injury and followed for a year. During that time, periodic blood and stool samples will be collected along with surveys of their bowel function. Samples will be analyzed for microbiome changes. Finding changes may lead to the development of an inexpensive, non-invasive diet- or supplement-based treatment option for improving the health and quality of life for persons with SCI.

This study is the site-specific research project of the UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System.