BoobyBiome
Giving infants a healthier start in life by boosting their gut microbiome
The challenge
“Breast is best” is a phrase commonly used to describe the benefits of breastfeeding. Breast milk contains a diverse population of bacteria that are essential for a newborn’s gut microbiome, which contributes greatly to their overall physical, immune and cognitive health and development.
However, for a multitude of reasons, breastfeeding can present challenges meaning that infants can be deprived of the beneficial bacteria found in breast milk that play an important role in establishing a healthy microbiome. Ultimately, this means that they need extra support with establishing good microbes in their gut.
Breastfeeding difficulties such as pain and poor latch, and health complications, including mastitis and other infections that require antibiotics, are all factors that can impact access to essential breast milk bacteria.
This is why CPI collaborated with BoobyBiome, a startup translating cutting-edge breast milk research into innovative products for improving infant health.
The company approached us for support with its groundbreaking product – a next-generation supplement for babies, containing probiotic microbes isolated from breast milk and prebiotic fibres to support bacterial growth.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Petri-dish-2-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725621674&s=ccab100e74cc1e9a4c3d6d85984784e1 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Petri-dish-2-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725621674&s=f87d7d37a3862338f61d5ad3f99fe1dc 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Petri-dish-2-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=2240&h=1260&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725621674&s=d50255d60630b933a64ab39473877c56 2240w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Petri-dish-2-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725621674&s=4a1cf2e5ca8dc70d9719a80f807c20c9 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Petri-dish-2-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725621674&s=1a444c205a0a3c298cb6927c7f71e0c8 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Petri-dish-2-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725621674&s=ee8bbbfd379b201ec5fdaa36cd22e676 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Petri-dish-2-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725621674&s=8405086d2908f8f936638cc8215d9677 960w)
“CPI was an excellent partner, aiding in demonstrating the manufacturing feasibility of our top bacterial candidates and distinguishing between strains in co-cultures. Their facilities in Darlington were impressive, facilitating rapid data generation. We’re now collaborating with CPI again to complete our preclinical program and prepare for the launch of our symbiotic supplement. I am excited to see this hard work translate into improved health for the next generation of infants!”
![Lydia Mapstone Lydia Mapstone](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Lydia-Mapstone.png?w=100&h=100&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725621513&s=837fe016a35b12f4895cd16546458988)
How CPI helped
- Developed, optimised and scaled the bacterial fermentation process for product manufacture.
- Contributed microbiome therapeutics expertise.
- Provided access to state-of-the-art equipment, including high throughput bioreactor systems for process development and molecular analytical characterisation methods.
- Conducted a feasibility study on co-culturing multiple species of bacteria at scale.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Bottle-feeding-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615207&s=31463e8c77d9594dc93c0de9362860b6 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Bottle-feeding-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615207&s=543be1500a9a58a77394e665d349da0a 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Bottle-feeding-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=2240&h=1260&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615207&s=f1284a56213e8cb1b0e89115e091fcaa 2240w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Bottle-feeding-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615207&s=edf824f13fc488a766abe29cf55513c5 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Bottle-feeding-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615207&s=b34e2adbf271888859c4740457d68fe6 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Bottle-feeding-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615207&s=73a928d156da1d783f6b8fb3f4ac44fe 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/Bottle-feeding-BB-case-study.jpeg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615207&s=ba616186cd6ea270c336a561c952a37a 960w)
Achievements
- Optimised the culture conditions for individual strains of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
- Developed methods to co-culture a consortium of bacteria, establishing a robust and efficient manufacturing process for a multi-strain probiotic product.
- Developed an analytical toolbox for product characterisation.
- Demonstrated the scalability and robustness of the manufacturing process at the 10L scale.
Impact
BoobyBiome’s innovative probiotic supplement, informed by breast milk microbiome research, represents a significant leap forward in promoting infant wellbeing.
CPI collaborated with BoobyBiome to optimise bacterial growth conditions and establish scalable methods for producing the supplement. This groundbreaking solution holds immense promise for infant health and has now been shown to be both scalable and manufacturable, accelerating this product to supermarkets and hospitals in the near future.
Easily added to formula or breast milk, the supplement will boost the gut health of newborn babies. By supporting early immune system development, through a robust gut microbiome, the supplement will provide both short and long-term health benefits throughout infancy and childhood.
Our work with BoobyBiome will be key to making the supplement commercially viable so that it can reach the babies that need it the most. It will also pave the way for more research in this important and under-studied area. By enabling the success of this unique and necessary product, we can help give infants and our future generations a better start in life, one tiny gut microbiome at a time.
![](https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/BoobyBiome-case-study-2.jpeg?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615210&s=f3a4072138ccb4c41da84ec5dd8b140f 1920w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/BoobyBiome-case-study-2.jpeg?w=1120&h=630&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615210&s=ba1d415f93e702d74a3c7b18cf4de252 1120w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/BoobyBiome-case-study-2.jpeg?w=2240&h=1260&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615210&s=20972472a6fa67869b5a4e23bc36a755 2240w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/BoobyBiome-case-study-2.jpeg?w=800&h=450&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615210&s=4aea0618fd4a7aa75e636df30474fe63 800w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/BoobyBiome-case-study-2.jpeg?w=1600&h=900&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615210&s=55d4a853b304625353d3c64c8569d0bf 1600w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/BoobyBiome-case-study-2.jpeg?w=480&h=270&q=60&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615210&s=dbf2f9e79aa0b76ebe283240b81f8c53 480w, https://optimise2.assets-servd.host/smart-hoopoe/production/content/images/BoobyBiome-case-study-2.jpeg?w=960&h=540&q=45&fm=jpg&fit=crop&dm=1725615210&s=64f0c99b1d1b9d7b8a12d07f059db568 960w)