The Harvard Chan Microbiome Collection Core

The Microbiome Collection Core at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HCMCC) was established in response to a strong demand among the research community for validated microbiome collection kit configurations and easy usability for in-home sampling. Under the umbrella of the Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center (HCMPH), HCMCC aims to support population-scale microbiome sample collection and expand our understanding of the microbiome to improve population health. The HCMCC has developed a multi carrier-compatible home stool and oral sample collection kit that permits cost-effect multi’omic microbiome studies, leveraging the intellectual and infrastructure foundation laid by the HMP2 (the 2nd phase of the NIH Human Microbiome Project) and the MLSC (Massachusetts Life Sciences Center)-funded MICRO-N (MICRObiome Among Nurses) collection. By providing this customizable microbiome collection kit, we enable researchers to perform multiple different molecular assays and tailor collection plan to study-specific needs.