Prof. Omry Koren

Prof. Omry Koren is among the leading microbiota researchers in the world. His breakthrough studies have been published in prestigious journals and have been quoted thousands of times, which earned him the exclusive title of being among the most-quoted scientists (0.1% of scientists worldwide) between 2018 and 2022. All this testifies to his substantial influence in this field. 

Prof. Koren holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology and a Master’s degree and a PhD in Microbiology from Tel Aviv University. Early in his academic career he was one of the authors of the breakthrough article titled The Coral Probiotic Hypothesis, which has since been developed into the Holobiont Evolution Theory. This theory defines a new approach to biology sciences and investigates the connection between animals and the microorganisms that surround them and environmental changes. It suggests that the genes of the host and the surrounding microorganisms should be regarded as a single unit - the Holobiont.

As part of his post-doctoral studies at Cornell University, Prof. Koren participated in the NIH (National Institutes of Health) Human Microbiome Project and led the first research in history to prove that pregnancy was associated with significant alterations in the host’s gut microbiota as well as in her metabolism.

Today Prof. Omry Koren is a full professor at Bar-Ilan University and continues his laboratory research of microbiota in health and disease with a focus on the connection between the microbiota and the endocrine system.