This past winter, National Geographic published an article discussing the research of the human microbiome, featuring the work of Associate Professor, Matt Anderson, in the Laboratory of Genetics. The article dives into how the human microbiome is far less diverse and resilient due to industrialization. The efforts of the Global Microbiome Conservancy (GMbC) focus on studying the evolution of bacteria in order to better understand human health by collecting gut samples from various non-industrialized populations across the globe.
Dr. Matt Anderson’s lab prioritizes community engagement in microbiome research, specifically the interests of the Tribal communities in Wisconsin. “We have conversations with our partner communities about project that would benefit them, seek funding to accomplish the work, and prioritize their retention of materials and data obtained from the study,” says Anderson. The Anderson lab strays away from researcher-driven science that uses people to obtain resources without returning direct benefits back to participants, and instead advocates for and ensures a research process where the community has clear ownership of the project from start to finish.
Read the full article here: “The global hunt to unlock the healing powers of … poop” by Adam Piore