Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center

2025 application date for postdoctoral fellowship

The center provides an outstanding ecosystem in which to nurture the next generation of superstar microbiome researchers. We will begin accepting applications for postdoctoral fellowship on May 1 with a deadline date of June 1.

Seed grants
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Seminar series

Join us for this monthly seminar series where invited guest speakers, Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center faculty and UCLA trainees present their latest research findings and discuss evolving areas of interest in the many ways the microbiome interacts with human health.

Meet our team

Liver Team

Latest news

Andrea Shin, MD

Dr. Andrea S. Shin receives 2025 ACG Established Investigator Bridge Funding Award

Dr. Shin will apply the funding to support her research on microbiome endophenotypes over time in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 

ElaineHsiaoJakeLusisEmeranMayer_Small

Three center members named among the world's most influential researchers

The annual Highly Cited Researchers list compiled by Calivate identified Drs. Elaine Hsiao, Aldons J. "Jake" Lusis and Emeran A. Mayer as scholars who have authored multiple studies that rank in the top 1% in the number of scholarly citations worldwide.  

berries

$9.5M grant to study relationship between polyphenol intake, Alzheimer’s prevention & brain-gut-microbiome system

UCLA Health researchers, in collaboration with researchers from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, have received $9.5M award from the National Institutes of Health with support from European funding agencies — The Science Foundation Ireland and the Public Health Agency Health & Social Care — to study the effects of polyphenols on cognitive health and the brain-gut microbiome system.

Microbiome program

Discrimination can cause changes in the gut microbiome

In a new study published in Frontiers in Microbiology, Drs. Arpana Church and Tien S. Dong have found that people who experienced discrimination had pro-inflammatory bacteria and gene activity in their gut microbiome that was different from those who did not experience discrimination. 

Oral health

Caregiving adversity leads to changes in the oral microbiome, stress markers

In a new study, led by Bridget L. Callaghan, PhD, UCLA Health researchers found that youth who experienced caregiving adversity, described as having been mistreated or in foster care, had less variety in their oral microbiome compared to youth who remained living with their biological families. The same group also had more disease-causing bacteria in their oral microbiome, and their microbiome seemed less reactive to recent stress. 

caregiving

Infants’ microbiomes shaped by physical contact with caregivers

A new study led by researchers at UCLA Health found that early life caregiving experiences including skin-to-skin contact at birth, number of individuals in physical contact with the infant at birth, and the amount of time infants were in physical contact with caregivers were significantly associated with the composition of the infant gut microbiome up to six months of age.

Young girl in school with head on desk

UCLA receives grant to study gut-brain signaling in youth with anxiety, depression