The Microbiome Collection Core at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

The Microbiome Collection Core at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HCMCC) was established in response to strong demand among the research community for validated microbiome sample collection kit configurations and easy usability for in-home sampling. Under the umbrella of the Harvard Chan Center for the Microbiome in Public Health, HCMCC aims to support population-scale microbiome sample collection and expand our understanding of the microbiome to improve population health. Leveraging the intellectual and infrastructure foundation laid by the HMP2 (the 2nd phase of Human Microbiome Project) and the MLSC (Massachusetts Life Sciences Center) funded MICRO-N (MICRObiome Among Nurses) collection, the HCMCC has developed a multi carrier-compatible home stool and oral sample collection kit with several different room temperature storage that is compatible with multiple different molecular assays including any combination of amplicon (16S), metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, and metabolomics sequencing. The kit further includes a culture- compatible sample using anaerobic media that yields live microbes for culture or gnotobiotic, as well as user-friendly instructions and standardized questionnaires to capture recent medications, diet, and oral and gastrointestinal health status. By providing support in ordering this customizable microbiome collection kit and post-collection assistance in sample handling, sequencing, and storage, HCMCC enables researchers to tailor the kit configuration and collection plan to study-specific needs, and conduct cost-effective multi’omic microbiome studies.