UCLA has established the Goodman–Luskin Microbiome Center, thanks to a $20m donation from Andrea and Donald Goodman and Renee and Meyer Luskin. The center will focus on understanding the role of the microbiome in disease prevention and the body’s immune response to develop treatments for a range of conditions including inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, eating disorders, autism, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, substance use and psychiatric disorders. The microbiome is the community of bacteria, fungi, viruses and their genes that live in and on our bodies, and is essential to human development, immunity and nutrition. Dysfunctional microbiomes are associated with autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Researchers at the center will work to identify microbial diversity and develop lifestyle interventions to reduce the risks of chronic diseases.

https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucla-establishes-goodman-luskin-microbiome-center