An ad hoc planning committee under the auspices of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will plan a 1.5-day public workshop to explore the growing understanding of how microbes interact with and affect humans in multiple ways, ranging from affecting normal physiological functions to chronic diseases. The workshop will allow participants to gain a deeper understanding of how the distinction between infectious diseases and noncommunicable diseases is blurring and how this is extending to new approaches, such as the use of vaccination to treat certain cancers.
Specifically, this workshop will feature invited presentations and discussions including the following:

• Current knowledge on the known and suspected associations between micro-organisms and chronic diseases and conditions, as well as associated issues, such as possible linkages between antibiotic use at an early age and obesity;
• The evolving understanding of how the microbiome affects the normal physiological functioning in humans and how they may differ depending on the population, geographic location, and other biological or environmental factors;
• Research needed to further understand the relationship between micro-organisms and chronic diseases and physiological functions;
• Opportunities for developing new approaches to prevent, detect, and mitigate chronic diseases and to reduce their public health impact and burden;
• Cutting edge methods and tools as well as study designs being used to explore links between chronic diseases and infectious diseases; and
• Mechanisms to leverage cross-sectoral collaborations and break down silos among various stakeholders from research to practice.

Workshop speakers and discussants will contribute perspectives from government, academia, private, and nonprofit sectors. The planning committee will plan and organize the workshop, select and invite speakers and discussants, and moderate the discussions. A proceedings of the presentations and discussions at the workshop will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with institutional guidelines.