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

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 sample 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-effective 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.