The human microbiome is made up of trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes, that live in and on the human body. In recent years, we’ve gained significant insights into these microbial communities, from their role in the gut-brain axis to promising research on how they could influence cancer immunotherapy responses. However, much remains to be discovered, and we are still at the frontier of microbiome research.
In this interview, we speak with Se Jin Song, Ph.D., Managing Director at The Microsetta Initiative , about the progress in understanding the human microbiome and how both cutting-edge research and public participation are shaping this journey.
Can you start by giving us an overview of The Microsetta Initiative and its primary goals? The Microsetta Initiative (TMI) is a highly collaborative microbiome research study based out of the Knight Lab and the Center for Microbiome Innovation (CMI) at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego). The study's primary goal is to better understand our microbiomes, like those on our gut or skin, and their connections to diet, lifestyle, age, health, medical history, demographics, and other relevant conditions. Participants submit samples, such as stool, which we then sequence to discover what bacteria and other microbes are present.
We pair these data with information participants provide about their personal characteristics and habits. By analyzing the combination of microbial .