The development of a live biotherapeutic product for clinical use, preventing NEC in preterm babies.

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**BoobyBiome is developing breakthrough breast milk-derived live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) for infants with compromised microbiomes**. The microbiome describes the collection of microorganisms, including bacteria, which reside on and in us. A healthy microbiome is crucial in regulating digestive, immune and metabolic functions. Human breast milk (HBM) contributes 40% of the beneficial bacteria in an infant's gut. Without access to HBM, babies are vulnerable to microbiome-related diseases (necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), sepsis, diabetes, IBS etc.). Most at-risk are preterms, the largest population of neonatal mortality in the UK (8% of births). Despite this, preterm disease remains an underfunded sector in healthcare research, and there is a strong demand for new treatments.BoobyBiome is developing a world-first, **multi-strain** LBP to improve the health outcome of preterms at a reduced cost to standard interventions. Our LBP will mimic the microbiota of HBM, restoring the gut to a healthy state by replenishing the bacteria that these babies are lacking. Our product will contain a community of strains informed by rigorous scientific testing and precise characterisation of the HBM. **Our clinically validated multi-strain LBP** **will fill an unmet need in the expanding microbiome market**, with current products poorly regulated and containing minimal bacterial strains sourced from infant stool.With this project, BoobyBiome aims to develop a clinical LBP product for NEC prevention in preterms. During the project, multiple clinically relevant strains will be formulated to a proof-of-concept LBP. Subsequently, the LBP will be safety tested and manufacturing processes scaled up with expert regulatory, CMC and commercial support. The key to the completion of these milestones is our team. BoobyBiome is a female-led team of highly qualified scientists with entrepreneurial expertise whose success lies in their diverse skill sets. The team is based at the Institute of Child Health, UCL, collaborating with esteemed infant microbiologist Dr Bajaj-Elliott. Assisting the team are non-executive directors David Ford and Andrew Martin (New Atlantis Ventures Ltd), who have substantial experience in early-stage science and technology ventures. Further, ??Elizabeth Klein, with a proven track record in the UK's Life Sciences investment community, provides strategic and commercial guidance and will help the team raise funds alongside existing investors for future clinical work.Ultimately, BoobyBiome aims to deliver clinically tested, commercial products accessible to all babies with compromised microbiomes, including C-section and formula-fed babies. We are committed to producing clinically validated LBPs to exert real change in the healthcare sector.