Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researcher Dr. Curtis Huttenhower have launched a new web portal for the One Health Microbiome Resource (OHMR), a major step in advancing research into the pet gut microbiome and its connections to human and environmental health.
The portal offers unprecedented open access to data, standardized protocols, and computational tools, including a central repository of more than 2,000 pet gut microbiome samples. Designed to support both academic and industry researchers, the OHMR aims to accelerate the pace of discovery in microbiome science and its applications in nutrition and disease prevention.
Dr. Huttenhower, a professor of computational biology and bioinformatics, said the collaboration enables researchers to better understand how pets’ microbiomes influence overall health. “Our pets' diets and environments mirror human experiences,” he said. “Studying their microbiomes offers valuable insight into diagnostics, preventative care, and treatment outcomes.”
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, which has been investing in microbiome science for over a decade, is leveraging the OHMR data to support studies on how diet affects microbial health in dogs and cats. Recent research using the OHMR database, published in the ISME Journal and mSystems, has highlighted links between dietary fiber and gut health in dogs, with implications for new product development.
“This hub provides researchers with valuable tools and insights to drive innovation in pet nutrition,” said Dave Baloga, executive vice president of science and technology at Hill’s. “We’re already seeing results that could reshape how we understand and support pets’ digestive and immune health.”
The initiative aligns with a One Health perspective, recognizing the interconnected nature of animal, human, and environmental health. By making pet microbiome data widely accessible, the partners hope to support ongoing scientific efforts and contribute to more effective, evidence-based solutions in veterinary care and nutrition.
According to Petfood Industry's Top Pet Food Companies, Hill's Pet Nutrition sells more than 300 products, principally through authorized pet supply retailers and veterinarians in more than 80 countries worldwide. Hill's operates major manufacturing and warehousing facilities in Bowling Green, Kentucky; Topeka, Kansas; Emporia, Kansas; and Richmond, Indiana, USA. Its primary research center is located in Topeka, Kansas, U.S. Hill's also runs major manufacturing and warehousing facilities in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
