In the mid ‘70s, a group of American and European scientists actively involved in the study of human intestinal flora decided to found the Society for Intestinal Microbial Ecology and Disease (SIMED). Statutes and bylaws were then discussed and a small Executive Board was elected to organize the first meeting in the USA in 1976.

The principal aims of the Society were defined as: a) the exchange of information, b) the organization of annual international meetings to be held alternatively in USA or Europe, c) the diffusion of the results of scientific investigations on the intestinal microbial ecology in health and disease.

At the beginning, meeting organization was the main task of the newborn Society, but, in the course of the years, other important activities have developed including the foundation, in 1988, of the official journal of the Society (Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease) to support and facilitate the publication of scientific results obtained by SIMED members.

In the minutes of the SIMED Business Meeting held in the occasion of the XIII International Symposium on Intestinal Microecology, September 11-14, 1988, Porto Conte, Sassari, Italy, “...Dr. Finegold asked for a discussion regarding the current name of SIMED. He felt that a change should be made to accommodate areas of microbial ecology in addition to intestinal ecology. Drs. Finegold, Borriello and Nord felt that a name change would attract a broader membership. Dr. Finegold moved that the name of our organization be changed from SIMED to SOMED (Society for Microbial Ecology and Disease). The motion was seconded by Dr. Borriello. Dr. Hentges indicated that this would require an amendment to the SIMED constitution. The members present voted 20 yes, 1 no, and 3 abstain to take the name change proposal to the membership for an official vote”.