Advancing understanding of microbial contributions to chronic human disease
The Pathobiome Research Center (PBRC) at PCOM is dedicated to advancing our understanding of how microbial communities influence the development and progression of chronic and neurodegenerative diseases. Established in December 2024, the Center serves as a collaborative research hub focused on identifying microbial drivers of long-term illness, fostering global partnerships and translating scientific discoveries into actionable insights.
The “pathobiome” refers to microbial communities—viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites—that can persist in the body and interact with the host to drive inflammation, immune dysfunction and chronic illness. Studying the pathobiome holds promise for advancing precision medicine, diagnostics and preventive care.
The Pathobiome Research Center is committed to:
Founding Director, Pathobiome Research Center
Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI)
Nikki Schultek received her BS in Business Administration from Villanova University, studying marketing, French and international business, and began her career with Pfizer and Genentech. Shortly after becoming a mother, she developed a debilitating systemic illness with neurological and respiratory symptoms. Following diagnoses of Lyme disease, Chlamydia pneumoniae and other co-infections, she experienced remission with antibiotic treatment—an experience that shaped her mission to advance rigorous, patient-centered research into infection-associated chronic conditions and illnesses (IACCIs). Since 2017, Schultek has served as an architect of interdisciplinary research collaborations, connecting scientists, clinicians, patients, innovators and other stakeholders across academic and medical silos. She founded Intracell Research Group, LLC and co-founded the Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), where she serves as Executive Director.
AlzPI unites global experts investigating how microbes, infection and host responses may influence brain health and disease across the lifespan. Schultek was co-lead author of AlzPI's 2023 consensus brain pathobiome research roadmap published in Alzheimer's & Dementia. In 2024, Schultek established the Pathobiome Research Center at the PCOM as its founding director and was appointed research assistant professor in 2026.
Since 2023, she has facilitated foundation-supported research across nine AlzPI consortium academic centers, expanding collaborative investigations from Alzheimer's disease to five additional infection-associated neurological diseases, including PANDAS/PANS. From 2026-2028, Schultek is leading a multi-institutional $1.4 million foundation-funded research project examining women's disproportionate Alzheimer's disease risk through infection, host immune responses and hormonal shifts. She is also a co-investigator of the currently enrolling 3,200-patient iTREAT-PC asthma trial. Her editorial leadership includes a two-year Molecular Neurobiology special issue on infections that published 88 articles and the current TRCI: A Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association special issue, “Infectious Agents: Causal or Risk?”
Across these efforts, Schultek builds the connective infrastructure for team science leveraging multidisciplinary expertise, expanding research funding, maximizing precious patient samples, engaging and mentoring students and researchers, and translating discoveries toward patient impact. Her long-standing collaboration with Brian Balin, PhD, combines patient-centered and translational insight with experimental expertise, helping position PCOM as a collaborative hub for rigorous pathobiome research.
The work of advancing interdisciplinary, patient-centered research into infection-associated chronic illness and neurological disease has received growing national and international recognition. Scientific leadership and advocacy have included invited presentations, advisory and editorial roles, national policy discussions and features in leading scientific and general-interest publications. We have also received foundation support to advance CCDA and PBRC efforts.
Brian Balin, PhD, and Nikki Schultek have hired Megan Donlick, DO '26, as a postdoctoral research fellow supporting the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging (CCDA) and the Pathobiome Research Center (PBRC) at PCOM. The position is supported by a $100,000 gift from the Sim Einstein Research Foundation, Inc., through the Sally Einstein Brain Research Program.
In this role, Donlick will conduct laboratory research with Balin, contribute to high-impact publications and work with Schultek and the AlzPI consortium. The fellowship also demonstrates the value of engaging PCOM students and graduates in osteopathic medical research, providing hands-on laboratory experience, publishing opportunities, professional connections and mentorship that can strengthen their preparation for the next stages of medical training.
Donlick plans to apply to surgery residency programs, a highly competitive career trajectory. Her work with the PBRC and CCDA will provide research, publishing and mentorship experiences that can help position her for success. By investing in opportunities like this fellowship, PCOM can help its osteopathic medical students and graduates build competitive research credentials as they pursue specialized training and advance their careers.
Brian Balin, PhD, Nikki Schultek, Garth Ehrlich, PhD, (Drexel) and Or Shemesh, PhD, (Hebrew University, University of Pittsburgh) Presenters, ASM Microbe 2026 - This AlzPI mini symposium was held at the American Society for Microbiology in June in Washington D.C. Organized by Dr. Garth Ehrlich, this event focused on infectious contributions to Alzheimer's disease.
Our collaborative research team has also been featured in major publications examining the emerging science of infectious contributors to chronic and neurodegenerative disease.
Schultek was an invited presenter for NASEM's Understanding Brain–Body Interactions to Advance Brain Health workshop, held in October 2025. She contributed perspectives on infection-associated chronic illness, patient-centered research and interdisciplinary collaboration. Schultek also served as a reviewer of the resulting 2026 NASEM workshop proceedings alongside Rhoda Au, PhD (Boston University), and Tony Wyss-Coray, PhD (Stanford).
Brian Balin, PhD, and Nikki Schultek join PCOM President Jay Feldstein, DO, to discuss their collaborative work examining connections between infectious processes and chronic disorders of aging. Listen on Spotify, Soundcloud or Apple Podcasts.
The PBRC, in partnership with the CCDA and AlzPI, hosts annual scientific symposia and public lectures. These events bring together global experts in microbiology, immunology, neuroscience and systems biology to exchange insights and accelerate discoveries.
We welcome partnerships from:
To learn more or participate in upcoming events, please contact: nicolesc2@pcom.edu
Pathobiome Research Center
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
4170 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Email: nicolesc2@pcom.edu
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