A project led in particular by Inrae and Inserm aims to develop knowledge of French intestinal microbiota. For this, the major French are called to give their saddles.
Contribute to scientific discoveries with a simple action. This is the goal of the donors of “French gut”, an initiative led in particular by Inrae, AP-HP, Inserm and AgroParisTech and launched in September. The objective of the scientists is to map and understand the French intestinal microbiota by receiving the stools of volunteers. Officials want to collect 100,000 faecal samples by 2027.
A microbiota is “all the microorganisms – bacteria, viruses, parasites and non-pathogenic fungi” which “live in a specific environment” explains Inserm on its site.
The intestinal microbiota is the most “populated” microbiota in the human body, according to Inserm. By developing knowledge about this set of microorganisms, the project partners hope to help find “new personalized therapeutic solutions” that will “improve health and reduce the costs associated with chronic diseases that have been constantly increasing in recent years. (diabetes, obesity, cancer, allergies, inflammatory bowel diseases, etc.)”
This involves determining the factors, for example lifestyle or nutritional factors, which influence the intestinal microbiota and their link with chronic diseases.
How to give?
Participation is open to all adults residing in metropolitan France. To do this, you must register on the project site, then answer a questionnaire on your dietary and health habits. You then receive a home collection kit, with an explanatory note.
People who have had a colectomy or a digestive stoma or those who have taken antibiotics or had a colonoscopy in the previous three months are not eligible.
Participants will have access to collective scientific feedback. The cost of the project is estimated at 32 million euros over 5 years.