The host-microbiota ecology (HoME) lab at the A*STAR's Skin Research Labs (ASRL) investigates the intricate relationships between microbes and the human skin – the ecosystem they inhabit.

Motivation

Microorganisms are ubiquitous and play a vital role in regulating the health of our planet’s biosphere. It therefore comes with no surprise that the human health and wellbeing depends on multiple species of microbes - the microbiota - colonising the human body, inside and out. These microbes perform essential functions, from aiding digestion to regulating the immune system.

The skin, our primary barrier to the external environment, works in close partnership with its resident microbiota to maintain health and defence. When this delicate balance is disrupted—a state known as dysbiosis—it is often associated with conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Understanding how the skin microbiota contributes to skin health and the mechanisms underlying their function will pave the way for more effective, targeted treatments.

Our approach

Human skin is a unique ecosystem that has co-evolved with a distinct set of microbial species compared to our non-human primate relatives. At the HoME Lab, we use multi-omics tools to study the human skin microbiota and synthesize ecological and evolutionary hypotheses to explain host-microbiota and microbe-microbe interactions. To test these hypotheses, we build synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) and investigate the mechanisms and metabolic cross-talk that drive community assembly and function. We also apply computational biology and ecological modelling to understand how various environmental, host, and microbial factors influence microbiota composition and function. In parallel, we use host model systems—including skin organoids and animal models—to explore host responses to microbiota-targeted interventions.

Mission

Our mission is to advance the fundamental understanding of host-microbiota interactions and translate the knowledge into innovative solutions for treating various skin conditions.

Research interests & Key projects:

• Inflammatory skin conditions
• Microbiota colonisation resistance against pathogens
• Wound biofilm infections
• Microbial community engineering
• Targeting the host microbiota for precision medicine 
• Asian Skin Microbiome programme 2.0

Work with us

We welcome academic and industry collaborations across computational biology, clinical dermatology, synthetic biology, and microbial ecology. Join us in advancing the frontiers of microbiome science and innovation to transform skin health.