Professor Emad El-Omar, a globally recognized expert on the gut microbiome, inaugurated the center in the presence of Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG Hospitals | Photo credit: Special arrangement
AIG Hospitals in Hyderabad inaugurated the Center for Microbiome Research in India on Friday, January 16, describing it as a major step towards transforming the treatment of chronic gastrointestinal diseases through gut microbiome-based science and therapy.
The facility is envisioned as a specialized and integrated research center that will focus on understanding the role of the gut microbiome in health and disease and translating that knowledge into personalized clinical interventions, the hospital said in a release.
The human gut contains trillions of beneficial bacteria that function almost like a hidden organ, supporting digestion, immunity and overall well-being. However, in many chronic digestive disorders, this balance is disrupted, leading to a reduction in beneficial microbes, an increase in harmful ones, and persistent inflammation.
Microbiome-based therapies aim to restore this natural balance by analyzing an individual’s gut bacteria and designing treatments that promote beneficial microbes while reducing harmful ones. Unlike conventional approaches that primarily manage symptoms, this strategy seeks to address underlying biological mechanisms and potentially offers more lasting relief with fewer side effects, the release added.
The center was inaugurated by prof. Emad El-Omar, a globally recognized expert in gut microbiome research. Prof El-Omar was also appointed Special Scientific Adviser to the Centre.
The center’s primary focus will include conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, fatty liver disease, obesity and other metabolic disorders, pancreatitis and other complex gastrointestinal diseases that are increasingly prevalent in India and globally, said Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG Hospitals.
Published – 16 Jan 2026 21:06 IST
