Precision Microbiome Solutions - CMMR, Where Science Meets Innovation
About Us
The CMMR sequencing center is part of The Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research (CMMR) and is an integral part of the Baylor College of Medicine strategic plan, serving as a hub for translational microbiome research by providing expertise in microbiome study design, sample collection and processing, commensal cultivation, metagenomic sequencing, and analytical tool development. The CMMR is located within the Texas Medical Center (TMC), a nearly 1,000-acre complex, housing 59 member institutions. The CMMR was established in 2011 by Dr. Joseph Petrosino in the Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Over the past 14 years, the CMMR has partnered with more than 300 research groups worldwide, contributing to over 1,000 projects. These efforts span a wide range of body sites and sample types, each presenting unique analytical challenges that often demand tailored computational pipelines. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the CMMR processed over 163,000 COVID-19 testing samples for the City of Houston and Harris County. In 2022 the CMMR was contracted by the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI) to help create a statewide Texas Wastewater Environmental Biomonitoring (TexWEB) network, an initiative designed to detect microbial threats, prevent infectious diseases, and enhance pandemic readiness. The CMMR’s role was to create a sequencing and analysis pipeline focused on monitoring and characterizing the virome in wastewater samples collected throughout Texas. The Mission of the CMMR is to serve as an international hub for the development and implementation of advanced technologies for the understanding of how the microbiome impacts health and disease, and for the translation of this knowledge into microbiome-based therapeutics and diagnostics.
Top 5 Reasons to Choose CMMR for Your Microbiome Research
- Seamless End-to-End Solutions: From brilliant experimental design to stunning final reports, CMMR has you covered. We tackle diverse sample types, complex research questions, and unique study designs with ease—delivering robust data, insightful bioinformatics, and stunning visualizations. Powered by cutting-edge tech, we handle the details so you can focus on groundbreaking discoveries!
- Cutting-Edge Technology: Step into the future with CMMR’s state-of-the-art facility! Our high-throughput automated platforms for nucleic acid extraction, next-gen sequencing tools (Illumina, Oxford Nanopore), and a 2025-upgraded high-performance computing cluster with Intel-based nodes and GPU-optimized systems make us a metagenomic powerhouse. Your research deserves the best—CMMR delivers.
- Unmatched Expertise You Can Trust: Your success is our focus. Partnering with 300+ research groups globally, more than 500 collaborators, and involvement in over 1,000 projects. We bring unmatched experience to the table. Our team brings over 85 years of combined microbiome expertise. Whether it’s 16S sequencing, metagenomics, qPCR, or virome capture, we’ve got you covered with proven skills and continuously updated methods.
- Versatile Pipelines for Every Need: From human microbiomes to environmental samples, CMMR’s inclusive workflows adapt to any challenge. Specializing in large cohort studies, we offer everything from basic taxonomic profiling to in-depth functional analysis. Whatever your project demands, our diverse capabilities deliver.
- Affordable Flexibility, Premium Quality: Backed by Baylor College of Medicine, CMMR combines cost-effective, tailored services with uncompromising excellence. We optimize your budget and timeline without sacrificing precision—making high-quality microbiome research accessible and efficient for you.
