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Priority research questions in microbiome-integrated urban design.
Richard Beckett1, Lorraine Archer2, Alexia Barrable3
1The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Msphere
|October 14, 2025
Summary
Urban ecosystems can be enhanced by integrating microbiomes, the communities of microorganisms vital for city health and sustainability. This research identifies key questions for advancing microbiome-informed urban design and policy.
Area of Science:
- Urban ecology
- Microbiome science
- Sustainable urban development
Background:
- Rapid urbanization presents challenges for sustainable urban ecosystems and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- Microbiomes are crucial for ecosystem functions like nutrient cycling and climate regulation, but are underutilized in urban design, often limited to disease control.
- Microbiome-integrated urban design offers a novel multispecies framework to improve urban health and resilience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify critical research gaps and priority questions for integrating microbiome science into urban design.
- To foster interdisciplinary collaboration among experts in ecology, architecture, urban planning, immunology, and social sciences.
- To advance the field of microbiome-integrated urban design for more resilient and equitable cities.
Main Methods:
- Convened a global interdisciplinary workshop by the Probiotic Cities Working Group.
- Utilized reverse brainstorming and thematic analysis to identify core themes.
- Employed a modified Delphi technique to generate and rank 40 priority research questions, followed by binomial concordance analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified eight core themes and 40 priority research questions related to microbiome-integrated urban design.
- Revealed strong consensus on top-ranked questions concerning science communication, success metrics, and evidence-based interventions.
- Highlighted the need for policy, pollution prevention, interdisciplinary collaboration, experimental design, ethics, and public perception.
Conclusions:
- Addressing priority research questions is essential for advancing microbiome science in urban contexts.
- Integrating microbiomes into urban design can significantly enhance urban health, resilience, and sustainability.
- This work provides a roadmap for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to foster a transformative agenda for future cities.
