Who funds microbiome research?

We count 306 funded microbiome projects, active between 2020 and 2033, from 7 funders. The most came from EU · ERC (93 projects), EU · MSCA (83 projects) and Wellcome (28 projects). The median award is $1.6M, across the 291 of 306 projects that list an amount.

Funded projects

306

Funders

7

Median award

$1.6M

Open calls now

3

Top funders of microbiome research

Projects whose title or summary mentions microbiome. Median award: of the projects that list an amount, in US dollars; “—” when fewer than 3 do.

Open microbiome funding calls

3 open calls mention microbiome today.

• Microbiome and Microbial Diversity
  National Science Foundation (SBIR/STTR)Not specifiedDeadline: July 7, 2027 ·
• Microbiome for terrestrial livestock sustainability and health within a One Health approach
  European Commission · Horizon Europe€5,000,000 – €6,000,000Deadline: September 23, 2027 ·
• Towards commercialization of food systems microbiome solutions
  European Commission · Horizon Europe€7,000,000 – €8,000,000Deadline: September 23, 2027 ·

Funded microbiome projects

A sample, latest start first, at most three per program.

• Molecular analysis of the Type 9 Secretion System
  Wellcome · £2,786,633 · ends 2033
• Preventing bacterial disease using the human gut microbiome
  Wellcome · £3,647,306 · ends 2033
• Structural basis of virus-bacteria dynamics in the human gut
  Wellcome · £2,137,812 · ends 2033
• Alzheimer's Gut Microbiome Project
  NIH · NIA · $11,142,148 · ends 2031
• Microbial communities across the agricultural landscape underpin insect virulence and crop susceptibility to pests and pathogens
  USDA · $749,351 · ends 2031
• NSF/BIO-UKRI/BBSRC: Tipping the balance of amphibian microbiome-immune interactions towards greater antifungal defences
  NSF · BIO · $1,199,311 · ends 2030
• Understanding and manipulating microbiome ecology to curb gut-borne infections.
  NIH · NIAID · $3,519,992 · ends 2030
• Human Virome Characterization Center for the Oral-Gut-Brain Axis
  NIH · NIA · $4,399,997 · ends 2030
• VAST Center: Viromes Across Space(s) and Time
  NIH · NIA · $4,060,000 · ends 2030
• Collaborative Research: Linking gut microbiota to host nutrient dynamics, physiological performance, and survival in a resource-limited ecosystem
  NSF · BIO · $838,435 · ends 2030

How we count

Funded projects come from public award records (NIH RePORTER, NSF, EU CORDIS, UKRI Gateway to Research, Wellcome, the Gates Foundation, DOE, NASA and USDA NIFA) whose title or summary matches “microbiome or microbiota”. NIH lists each budget year separately; one project counts once. Amounts are as the funder lists them; medians use only projects that list one, in US dollars. Open calls and forecasts are from our listings of October 28, 2026. A project can mention a topic without being mainly about it, so treat the counts as a guide to who funds the area.