NIST Releases Reference Material to Aid Gut Microbiome Research

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NIST Releases Reference Material to Aid Gut Microbiome Research

A white box labeled "8048 Human Fecal Material" lies open, with a tray of four plastic vials pulled out.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a human stool reference material that will help scientists accurately measure the gut microbiome. The initiative aims to speed progress in a cutting-edge field of medical research targeting some of humanity’s most serious and intractable diseases.

The human gut microbiome is a rich, teeming ecosystem of microorganisms and their byproducts that line the human gastrointestinal tract. Over the last decade, scientists have linked activity in the gut microbiome to obesity, diabetes, mental illness, cancer and other medical conditions. Researchers believe that a new class of drugs targeting the gut microbiome can treat many of these conditions.

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