J.P. van Pijkeren

J.P. van Pijkeren is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, affiliated with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. His research is conducted through the van Pijkeren Laboratory, which focuses on the molecular mechanisms of probiotic bacteria, particularly Limosilactobacillus reuteri, and their interactions with the host and diet.

His research interests include:

• Microbiota-host interactions
• Development of next-generation probiotics
• Genetic tools for lactic acid bacteria
• CRISPR-based genome editing in microbes
• Probiotic delivery of therapeutics
• Diet-microbe-phage tripartite interactions

The van Pijkeren Laboratory has gained recognition for pioneering work in microbial genome editing, with research highlighted in outlets such as MIT Technology Review. The lab actively develops innovative strategies to engineer probiotic bacteria for medical applications, aiming to replace antibiotics with edible CRISPR systems and other biotherapeutic approaches.

His work is supported by active funding and collaborations, enabling a dynamic research environment. The lab maintains an active online presence, including a dedicated website and Twitter account, to share findings and engage with the scientific community.