The DenBalo study focuses on the critical first days and weeks of life, a period marked by rapid biological processes essential for neonatal growth and development. This project aims to understand how gut microbiota, immune system development, and neonatal nutrition interact, particularly in preterm infants. By leveraging cutting-edge systems biology approaches and building local research capacity at the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS) in Burkina Faso, we aim to provide new insights into the synergy between microbiome and immunome development. This research has the potential to inform innovative interventions and improve health outcomes for newborns globally.