Phil Strandwitz

Philip P. Strandwitz (born 27 December 1987) is an American microbiologist and entrepreneur, best known for his work on neurotransmitter biosynthesis and modulation in the human gut microbiome. He is co-founder and CEO of the biotechnology company Holobiome, headquartered in Cambridge, MA.
Early life and education
Strandwitz was raised in Wisconsin, and attended University of Wisconsin - La Crosse as an undergraduate. In 2011, he graduated with bachelor's degrees in microbiology, chemistry, and business administration.
In 2012, Strandwitz joined the biology PhD program at Northeastern University, where he was recruited to the lab of Dr. Kim Lewis.
Career
Northeastern
Strandwitz's work under Lewis at Northeastern initially focused on identifying growth factors for as-yet uncultured human gut bacteria. Many gut species are unable to grow in the absence of specific chemicals that are produced by their host, or by other species in their native habitat—a major bottleneck in the cultivation and characterization of the human gut microbiome.
At Northeastern, Strandwitz was part of the team that characterized the bacterium Evtepia gabavorous, a gut microbe that requires the neurotransmitter GABA for growth. Because E. gabavorous was found to grow in proximity to bacteria of the genus Bacteroides, this led to the understanding that many species of Bacteroides are capable of producing GABA.
This capability may represent an avenue of signaling between microbe and host; although GABA produced in the intestines does not cross the blood-brain barrier, it appears to act on the enteric nervous system.
Holobiome
While Strandwitz was still a graduate student at Northeastern, he founded the biotechnology research company Holobiome with the help of Lewis and colleague Michael La Fleur, with the goal of translating the emerging science of the gut-brain axis into products to promote physical and mental health, such as novel probiotics and biological therapeutics.
As of 2020, Strandwitz is an inventor on multiple patents and applications surrounding modulation of the gut microbiome to treat mental health disorders or diseases of the central nervous system.

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