University of California-San Francisco · BiochemistryGut Microbiome and Pharmacotherapy Unit
Peter James Turnbaugh · San Francisco, California
Research Focus
Dr. Peter Turnbaugh's lab focuses on understanding how the gut microbiome influences the metabolism of cancer drugs, particularly fluoropyrimidines used in colorectal cancer treatment. By examining the interactions between gut bacteria and these drugs, the research aims to reveal why there are differences in drug effectiveness and side effects among patients. This work could lead to better treatment strategies that take into account individual differences in gut microbiota.
gut microbiomedrug metabolismcancer treatmentflourouracilcolorectal cancermetabolic pathwaysgut bacteriapharmacodynamicspreclinical studies
Research Aims
5AIM 01Identify gut bacterial species involved in the metabolism of 5-fluorouracil.
AIM 02Characterize bacterial enzymes activating capecitabine to 5-fluorouracil.
AIM 03Understand the impact of gut bacteria on drug pharmacokinetics and dynamics.
AIM 04Provide insights into individual variability in cancer treatment efficacy.
AIM 05Explore the inter-relatedness of human and microbial drug metabolism.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturemouse modelsbiochemical assaysgnotobiotic studiesxenograft techniquesmetabolic pathway analysisbacterial gene characterizationpharmacokinetics evaluation
Output against the department
Publications279top 24% of dept.96th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations163ktop 1% of dept.2nd of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.