The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded James Gern, MD, professor, vice chair of research, and chief, and Christine Seroogy, MD, professor, both from the Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, a five-year grant expected to total $7 million to study “Interactions Between the Microbiome, Immunity and Respiratory Health in Traditional Agrarian and Suburban Children.” This project will determine whether the gut and airway microbiome in early life influence the risk of developing viral respiratory illnesses, allergies, and childhood asthma. Co-investigators from the Department of Pediatrics include Yury Bochkov, PhD, senior scientist III, and Eishika Dissanayake, PhD, scientist I.