Apollo Stacy

Apollo Stacy, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Assistant Staff in the Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences Department at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute. He is also a Member of the Center for Microbiome & Human Health at Cleveland Clinic since 2022. Dr. Stacy leads the APOLLO (Analysis of POLymicrobial-host Language in the Oral cavity) Lab, which focuses on deciphering microbiota-host metabolic communication in the oral cavity, particularly in the context of gum disease and its comorbidities.

• Washington University in St. Louis (B.A. Biology and Earth & Planetary Sciences, 2006-2010)
• The University of Texas at Austin (Ph.D. Microbiology, 2010-2017)
• National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2017-2022)

Dr. Stacy's research centers on the metabolic dialogue between host and microbiota, investigating how host-derived metabolites shape the ecological balance between commensal and pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity. His work specifically examines periodontitis, one of the most prevalent inflammatory diseases worldwide, and its systemic connections to conditions like diabetes and oral cancer. Current projects fall under two main themes: Training Commensals (exploring how inflammation-induced metabolites like nitrate can nourish commensal bacteria to mitigate periodontitis) and Targeting Pathogens (investigating how pathogens exploit metabolites like formate under inflammatory conditions and whether selenium depletion can target pathogen metabolism).

Analysis of Dr. Stacy's publication record reveals a strong focus on host-microbe metabolic interactions, particularly how host-derived metabolites influence microbial community composition and function. His work spans from fundamental mechanisms of bacterial metabolism to translational applications in inflammatory diseases. A notable trend is the progression from studying basic microbial interactions to understanding how these interactions translate to human health outcomes, with increasing emphasis on therapeutic applications.

• Finalist for NOSTER Science Microbiome Prize (2022)
• CIMER Trained Mentor (completed mentorship training curriculum)

Dr. Stacy actively mentors postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, welcoming individuals interested in polymicrobial-host interactions, bacterial metabolism, genomics, and barrier immunity. His lab accepts students from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, and Kent State University. The APOLLO Lab's research has implications for developing microbiota-directed therapies that could mitigate periodontitis and its systemic complications without the broad-spectrum effects of traditional antibiotics.

The APOLLO Lab employs an interdisciplinary approach combining bacterial genetics, genomics, animal models, immune profiling, and human samples to characterize polymicrobial-host interactions within the oral cavity. The lab's work bridges basic science with clinical applications, aiming to translate discoveries about host-derived metabolites into novel therapeutic strategies for microbiota-driven diseases.