Christopher Stewart

Recognized for: Developing novel microbiome-based approaches to prevent disease in premature infants around the world.

Areas of Research Interest and Expertise:
Microbiome, Microbiology, Systems Biology, Microbial Ecology

Previous Positions:

BSc, Northumbria University
PhD, Northumbria University (Advisor: Stephen Cummings)
Postdoc, Northumbria University (Advisor: Gary Black)
Postdoc, Baylor College of Medicine, USA (Advisor: Joseph Petrosino)
Faculty Fellow, Newcastle University
Academic Career Track Fellow, Newcastle University
Senior Lecturer, Newcastle University

Research Summary:

Microbiologist Christopher Stewart, PhD, is a pioneer in global health, developing microbiome-based approaches to prevent necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), the leading cause of death in preterm infants. Stewart’s work revealed the role of human breast milk in shaping the gut microbiome in premature infants by providing abundant sugars that serve as an energy source for beneficial bacterial species. Stewart has also established a novel premature gut organoid model and probiotic strategies to address NEC. This work is changing both local and global clinical practice, including clinical trials to improve infant nutrition and microbial-based therapy for premature infants in low-resource settings.

Key Publications:

1. L.C. Beck, A.C. Masi, G.R. Young, T Vatanen, C.A. Lamb, R. Smith, J. Coxhead, A. Butler, B.J. Marsland, N.D. Embleton, J.E. Berrington, C.J. Stewart. Strain-specific impacts of probiotics are a significant driver of gut microbiome development in very preterm infants. Nature Microbiology, 2022.
2. A.C. Masi, T.Y. Fofanova, C.A. Lamb, J.M. Auchtung, R.A. Britton, M.K. Estes, S. Ramani, S.K. Cockell, J. Coxhead, N.D. Embelton, J.E. Berrington, J.F. Petrosino, C.J. Stewart. Distinct gene expression profiles between human preterm-derived and adult-derived intestinal organoids exposed to Enterococcus faecalis: a pilot study. Gut, 2021.
3. A.C. Masi, N.D. Embleton, C.A. Lamb, G. Young, C.L. Granger, J. Najera, D.P. Smith, K.L. Hoffman, J.F. Pretrosino, L. Bode, J.E. Berrington, C.J. Stewart. Human milk oligosaccharide DSLNT and gut microbiome in preterm infants predicts necrotising enterocolitis. Gut, 2021.
4. C.J. Stewart, N.J. Ajami, J.L. O’Brien, D.S. Hutchinson, D.P. Smith, M.C. Wong, M.C. Ross, R.E. Lloyd, H. Doddapaneni, G.A. Metcalf, D. Muzny, R.A. Gibbs, T. Vatanen, C. Huttenhower, R.J. Xavier, M. Rewers, W. Hagopian, J. Toppari, A.G. Ziegler, J. She, B. Akolkar, A. Lernmark, H. Hyoty, K. Vehik, J.P. Krischer, J.F. Petrosino. Temporal Development of the Gut Microbiome in Early Childhood from the TEDDY study. Nature, 2018.

Other Honors:

2024 Rising Star Award, The Neonatal Society
2023 WH Pierce Prize, Applied Microbiology International
2023 Microbiome Prize, NOSTER & Science
2023 Elected to the Royal Society UK Young Academy
2022 Fleming Prize, Microbiology Society
2021 Research Prize, Lister Institute

In the Media:

Chronicle Live - Prize for Newcastle Uni researcher whose work helps protect premature babies from lethal diseases  

The Microbiologist – The Stewart Lab

The Gutology Podcast – Infant microbiome and breastfeeding

Microbiology Society – 2022 Fleming Prize Lecture

Website