The human gut contains a vast number of microorganisms known collectively as the “gut microbiota”. Despite its importance in maintaining the health of the host, growing evidence suggests the gut microbiota may also be an important factor in the pathogenesis of various diseases, a number of which have shown a rapid increase in incidence over the past few decades. In this presentation, I will provide a broad overview of the gut microbiome, the relationship between diet and the production of microbial metabolites, and the role that they play in health and disease. Importantly, I will emphasize not only potential benefits to human health that may result from research focused on the gut microbiome but also the challenges in the field related to the development of practical applications.