Nadim Ajami
Director Scientific Affairs, MD Anderson
Dr. Nadim J. Ajami serves as Executive Director for Scientific Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Platform for Innovative Microbiome and Translational Research (PRIME-TR). With doctoral training in microbiology and virology, Dr. Ajami has dedicated the past 15 years to advancing microbiome research, with the last 6 years focused specifically on translational microbiome research in cancer.
At PRIME-TR, Dr. Ajami has established a comprehensive infrastructure supporting the full spectrum of microbiome research—from study design and specimen collection to advanced data analysis. Under his leadership, the platform has developed standardized protocols for microbiome sample processing that ensure reproducibility and reliability across studies. He oversees a multidisciplinary team combining expertise in microbiology, bioinformatics, and clinical research to support over 100 collaborative projects.
Dr. Ajami’s research focuses on understanding how the human microbiome influences cancer development, treatment response, and therapy-related toxicities. He has pioneered approaches to modulate the microbiome through defined bacterial consortia, diet, and FMT, enabling more precise and scalable therapeutic interventions. This work has particular significance for enhancing immunotherapy outcomes by strategically reprogramming the microbiota to overcome resistance mechanisms. Dr. Ajami is particularly invested in translating microbiome discoveries into clinical practice through rigorous biomarker development and mechanism-driven therapeutic approaches. His team has built robust data integration frameworks that connect microbiome profiles with clinical outcomes across diverse patient cohorts, allowing for identification of microbiome signatures associated with treatment response. Throughout his career, Dr. Ajami has championed the view that the microbiome isn’t merely an associative factor in cancer but a modifiable determinant of treatment success, one that offers unprecedented opportunities to overcome resistance to cancer treatments and mitigate treatment-related adverse events.