2026 Microbes as Therapeutics Gordon Research Conference

About This Grant

Summary The proposed Gordon Conference, on August 2-7 2026 at Bates College, will focus on the development, testing and utilization of microbial therapeutics to treat cancer and other diseases. As our understanding of microbial interactions with the human body deepens, new opportunities are emerging to harness these interactions for therapeutic benefit. Advances in genetic engineering now enable precise manipulation of bacteria, unlocking novel ways to modulate the immune system and metabolism with the potential for long-lasting therapeutic effects. A key focus of the conference will be the use of microbes in cancer therapeutics. Microbial therapies provide solutions to challenges that limit current treatments, including refractory metastatic cancers, multidrug resistance, and immune evasion. With rapid advances in genetic manipulation dramatically shortening the path from concept to clinical trials, microbial therapies are poised to become a cornerstone of modern medicine. This proposal to support the Microbes as Therapeutics Gordon Conference has three Specific Aims. The first Aim of the proposed conference is to accelerate the creation and development of advanced microbial therapies to address unmet medical needs. The second Aim of the proposed conference is to unlock the potential of microbial therapies for human use. The third Aim of the proposed conference is to build the Microbial Therapy community to support early researchers and new ideas. These aims will be achieved by showcasing the latest research in microbial therapies. Many of the invited speakers are generating bacterial therapies to address cancer as well as a long list of other medical indications. A forum where the leading researchers in the field can share their advances has the potential to create revolutionary organisms that are able to address human diseases in ways unapproachable by any other modality. Critical topics that will be addressed include (1) the relationship between bacteria and the immune system, (2) tools for synthetic construction of microbes, (3) the unique abilities of different bacterial species, and (4) novel mechanisms for molecular delivery. These aims will also be achieved by inviting prominent early career investigators and those who are new to the microbial therapy field. Despite numerous labs working on microbial therapies, to date, there are no conferences specifically geared towards this field. This has created a barrier for young scientists. Funds provided by the NIH, combined with funds from industrial sponsors, will be used to facilitate the travel and conference costs of these researchers. Funds will also be used to support the attendance of graduate students from these laboratories and students in established labs that are new to microbial therapies. Bringing together the community of researchers interested in microbial therapies has the potential to have a significant impact on how cancer is treated by accelerating the discovery of new mechanisms; establishing novel methods to reduce toxicity ensure safety; streamlining paths to regulatory approval; and providing the tools necessary to develop these therapeutic organisms into potent anticancer treatments.