Recorded at the 10th Pharmabiotics Conference in Brussels, this interview features Pierre Burguière, founder of Microbiome Futures, and Christian Roghi, founder of Bridgyz, reflecting on a groundbreaking session dedicated to the intersection of microbiome science and space exploration. Featuring contributions from representatives of the European Space Agency, MEDES, and Belgian research institutions, the discussion focused on practical and futuristic applications for astronaut health during missions aboard the ISS and in future lunar and Martian habitats.

Key themes included augmented foods to support the microbiome and astronaut performance, smart textiles integrating microbial and sensor-based solutions for skin health and physiological monitoring, and hibernation-inspired strategies informed by microbiome changes observed in animal models. The session also emphasized the reverse perspective: how the constraints of space can accelerate the clinical translation of microbiome innovation on Earth by testing robustness, feasibility, and implementation in extreme environments. This cross-disciplinary dialogue has now led to the launch of Microbiome Futures, a new think tank dedicated to human adaptation, starting in 2026 with a focus on space and the microbiome.