Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center

Microbiome lactobacillus
Brain Gut Relationship

UCLA receives $20 million to establish Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center

Among the most promising areas of scientific inquiry is the study of the human microbiome and its effect on health. To fuel more rapid progress in this field, Andrea and Donald Goodman and Renee and Meyer Luskin have made a $20 million gift to establish the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center. Research at the center will focus on the microbiome’s role in disease prevention and the body’s immune response with the goal of developing new treatments.

Our Programs

As well as broadening our understanding of the intricate workings of the brain gut microbiome system and the influence of environmental factors on this complex system, investigators at the center are exploring the role of the brain gut microbiome system in common conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes, liver disease, dementia and substance use, and developing novel therapies for these disorders.

Microbiome program
Cores

Cores

Supporting the groundbreaking work underway at the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center is a unique setup of specialized services ranging from neuroimaging to microbiome sequencing to data analysis. The six research cores and one administrative core are both efficient and cost-effective.

Latest News

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Men and women have different obesity drivers, pointing to the need for tailored interventions

A new study from UCLA researchers finds sex-specific brain signals that appear to confirm that different drivers lead men and women to develop obesity. 

 

Microbiome

Gut bacteria may contribute to susceptibility to HIV infection, UCLA-led research suggests

New UCLA-led research suggests certain gut bacteria -- including one that is essential for a healthy gut microbiome – differ between people who go on to acquire HIV infection compared to those who have not become infected.

Colored Woman

Everyday experiences of racism can impact your brain-gut microbiome

It’s been proven that experiencing systematic racism negatively affects one’s mental health. But it can also lead to diseases associated with inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune inflammatory disease, according a recent study published in Biological Psychiatry.