Kazakhstan's Microbiome Research Lab Steps Up on the Global Science Map
In the heart of Kazakhstan, the Microbiome Laboratory at Nazarbayev University (NU) is making waves in the global scientific community, focusing on harnessing microbes to address critical challenges in health, aging, climate change, agriculture, and sustainability.
Founded in 2011 and led by Professor Almagul Kushugulova, the lab has expanded its research to soil, plants, and animals, with a mission that expands under the global One Health concept, which sees human, animal, and environmental health as interconnected.
One of the lab's key areas of focus is the human microbiome, mainly the bacteria in our gut. These microscopic organisms act as a command center, influencing digestion, immunity, metabolism, and mental health. By exploring the role of the microbiome in fighting diseases and promoting healthy aging, the lab aims to develop novel therapeutics that could combat age-related diseases and improve longevity.
The lab's research into the diversity and function of the gut microbiome and its interaction with the immune system, including T-cells, is made possible through the use of cutting-edge Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies and bioinformatics. This research improves understanding of microbiome-related diseases, enhancing diagnostics and potential interventions.
In the realm of agriculture and environmental sustainability, the lab applies microbiome research to optimise soil health and plant productivity, contributing to better crop yields and resilience against climate stressors, supporting food security and environmental sustainability. The lab also explores ways microbes can help organisms adapt to changing environmental conditions, which is critical in Kazakhstan's context given its diverse and sometimes harsh climates.
The lab's innovations aim to reduce disease incidence and improve quality of life, particularly in rural and underserved areas. To this end, the lab has introduced functional foods like synbiotic yogurt and metabiotics from mare's milk into the Kazakh market, designed to improve gut health and immunity.
Collaborations with doctors, ecologists, and soil scientists from across Central Asia and the Caucasus are an integral part of the lab's research initiatives. The lab is also building the first reference microbiome for Central Asia and the Caucasus, which will be an invaluable tool for regional and international research.
Dr. Almagul Kushugulova, the leader of the lab, emphasizes the importance of affordable, locally developed solutions for Kazakhstan's healthcare needs. She views her children as her biggest inspiration, having faced challenges as a woman in science, particularly while raising young children.
The lab's success is attributed to a multidisciplinary team consisting of microbiologists, molecular biologists, immunologists, and machine learning experts, among others. Several diagnostic screening tools for early disease detection are being prepared for launch by the Microbiome Laboratory.
The lab is part of the National Laboratory Astana at NU since 2022, benefiting from the university's infrastructure, which includes English-language instruction and faculty from top global institutions. The lab's work is supported by NU's resources, enabling it to evolve rapidly and become a pioneering center in global science.
In summary, the Microbiome Laboratory at Nazarbayev University is a leading center advancing microbiome science with wide-reaching implications for public health, agriculture, and sustainability, driving Kazakhstan's prominence in global scientific research.
- The Microbiome Laboratory at Nazarbayev University, with its focus on human microbiome research and the role of microbes in health and aging, is expanding its scope to cover medical-conditions and health-and-wellness, aiming to develop novel therapeutics that could combat age-related diseases and improve longevity.
- In the realm of environmental-science, the Microbiome Laboratory's research into optimizing soil health and plant productivity contributes to better crop yields and resilience against climate stressors, supporting food security and environmental sustainability, particularly relevant in Kazakhstan's diverse and sometimes harsh climates.
