ASM Health Announces 4 New Scientific Initiatives

ASM Health Announces 4 New Scientific Initiatives

Jan. 26, 2026

Washington, D.C.-ASM Health, the newly established unit of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), has launched 4 scientific initiatives designed to translate microbial discovery into real-world solutions and shape the future of resilient health for all.

ASM Health will mobilize scientific leadership through strategic collaborations across academia, industry, government and nonprofit sectors to accelerate research, clinical trials and regulatory pathways. This coordinated approach will deliver innovative diagnostics, therapeutics and preventive tools for human, animal and environmental health.

"Rapid advances in microbial science are opening new possibilities for medicine, public health and preparedness," said Dev Mittar, Ph.D., Director, ASM Health. "ASM Health was created to help translate those breakthroughs into solutions that strengthen health systems and improve lives worldwide."

The 4 ASM Health initiatives address critical gaps across infectious disease detection, prevention and treatment:

• Phage Therapy Coordination Network: Unlocking the potential of bacteriophage therapies to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by coordinating data, clinical use and regulatory pathways for scalable, equitable access.
  
  The Phage Therapy Coordination Network will be the first initiative launched by the unit, and is now accepting applications for Academic Collaborators. The other 3 initiatives of the unit will follow, continuing to advance its health agenda.
  
  
  Join the Network
• Diagnostic Innovation Institute: Transforming infectious disease diagnostics from isolated tests into connected, AI-enabled systems that support faster, smarter and more personalized clinical and public health decision-making.
• Integrated Multi-Omics Powered Ecosystem: Redefining diagnosis, triage and surveillance through pathogen-agnostic, multi-omics approaches that integrate genomics, metabolomics and AI to strengthen health security.
• Microbiome to Medicine Initiative: Harnessing microbial ecosystems to advance microbiome-based diagnostics, therapeutics and prevention strategies, and to integrate microbiome science into clinical care and policy.

Each initiative brings together researchers, clinicians, industry partners and policymakers to overcome innovation bottlenecks and ensure that microbial science delivers measurable impact across One Health systems. ASM Health welcomes collaborators from government, academic and nonprofit sectors to help shape these initiatives and advance shared research and policy goals. Industry is invited to engage as ASM Health Partners-translating research into scalable solutions that reach patients, labs and communities.

"Industry partnership helps bridge the gap between discovery and delivery," said Colleen Kraft, M.D., Chair, ASM Health. "By working across sectors, ASM Health is building pathways to turn strong science into commercially viable, regulatory-ready solutions that deliver meaningful impact."

Together, these initiatives position ASM Health as a catalyst for next-generation diagnostics, therapeutics and preventive solutions. Their impact will strengthen preparedness, improve health outcomes and advance global health resilience.

Application to the Phage Therapy Coordination Network is open to Full ASM Members. Learn more about ASM Health and explore partnership opportunities.

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The American Society for Microbiology is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of over 38,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.

ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications, educational opportunities and advocacy efforts. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to all audiences.