Microbe Discovery Project

The Microbe Discovery Project was set up by Vanessa Li to raise funds for Ian Lipkin and Mady Hornig at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, in New York City, United States. The goal of Lipkin and Hornig's ME/CFS Monster Study is "to test the hypothesis that ME/CFS cases and controls have different bacterial, fungal or viral microflora in the oropharynx (mouth and throat regions), lower gastrointestinal tract (gut) and blood in a massive, well-powered study. By rigorously characterizing cases and controls and using state-of-the-art methods for identifying microbes, even currently-unknown ones, the CII will also study patients and controls for evidence of differences in immune system function and metabolic function". The study will also be looking into the metabolome, proteome, genetics, epigentics and immunology of patients.

Notable people

 * Vanessa Li
 * Ian Lipkin
 * Mady Hornig

Funding
Over $1.5 million has been raised so far to support research at the Center for Infection and Immunity. The next target is to raise another $5 million in order to test and analyze previously collected samples.

Online presence

 * PubMed
 * Twitter feed
 * Facebook page
 * Microbe Discovery Project website
 * YouTube