Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center
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.
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 seven research cores and one administrative core are both efficient and cost-effective.
Latest News
A mother's stress may change the makeup of her child's microbiome
A provocative study suggests that a mother’s stress may leave a lasting scar on future generations by impacting the makeup of her child’s gut microbiome. “Adversity tends to get under the skin,” said Bridget Callaghan, PhD, the study’s senior author, assistant professor of psychology, and member of the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center.
Hardship affects the gut microbiome across generations
This study draws on a large longitudinal cohort to demonstrate that adversity experienced prenatally or during early childhood, as well as adversity experienced by the mother during her childhood, impacts the gut microbiome of second-generation children at two years old.
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.
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.
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.
Elaine Hsiao, PhD, recipient of 2022 Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists
The Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences named Dr. Hsiao as a laureate of the 2022 Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists. The award was created to inspire and encourage young, talented scientist to take risks and push boundaries of science.