Genetics and the Gut Microbiome
We're launching a study to better understand the connection between your genetics, your gut microbiome, and mental health
Your participation could contribute to science on the potential link between genetics, the gut microbiome, and mental health. In partnership with Neurobiologix, we intend to publish our findings when the study concludes.
Your gut may shape your mental health.
Many US adults live with mental health conditions, and a growing body of research points to the gut as part of the story. The trillions of microbes in your gut are in constant communication with your brain—a link often called the gut-brain axis.
Here's one key example: about 95% of your body's serotonin—a chemical that helps regulate mood—is made in your gut, not your brain. Your gut microbes help drive this process. When that system is out of balance and tips toward inflammation instead of serotonin, it may play a role in depression and other mood disorders. Your genes matter too: small differences in the genes tied to serotonin and to your gut lining can make these imbalances harder to overcome.
This study explores how your genes and your gut microbiome relate to one another in adults with mental health conditions. You'll fill out a few health questionnaires and collect at-home saliva and stool samples, which we'll analyze for both genetic and microbiome insights.
IRB #16153 By Dr.Arbex, PhD
* Source:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40054458/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29902437/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25860609/
Help to advance research on genetics, gut health, and mental well-being.
Get the valuable insights of at-home genetic and gut microbiome testing. Help us better understand how your unique biology and gut microbiome impact mental health conditions.
Am I eligible to participate?
Inclusion criteria
- Participants are qualified for this study if they are 18 to 44 years of age at the time of enrollment.
- Participants must be current legal residents of the United States.
- Participants must have a clinical self-report of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or Panic Disorder.
Exclusion criteria
- Participants cannot be taking antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, probiotics, prebiotics, laxatives, strong anti-inflammatories, high-dose Omega-3, or weight-loss medications.
- Participants must be residents of the United States with US postal service.
- Participants cannot have the following existing health conditions:
- Chronic gut conditions, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis), Celiac Disease, or a history of major gastric/intestinal resection.
- Active cancer.
- Current pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Track your baby's microbiome development over time
You can learn the most about your baby’s health and protect against chronic conditions by tracking changes on their gut health over their first 1000 days.
We recommend testing at 7 days old, and every 3 months until your baby is 18 months old.
A Tiny Health subscription gets you:
- Exclusive $30 discount off each test kit
- Your kits delivered when you need them
- Enter your payment details only once
- Pay only when the tests are shipped
- Free shipping
- Skip or cancel anytime
How to join the study
If you're interested, complete the Eligibility Screening Questionnaire below. Qualified participants will receive an email confirmation with an online consent form to sign, followed by instructions to complete enrollment.
1x Mess-free Tiny Health Gut Microbiome stool test to further understand how gut health relates to mental health
- Track essential bacteria that support gut health, metabolic health and fight inflammation
- Gut Health Report with personalized recommendations (delivered in 2-3 weeks)
1x GenePro test
- This information provides insights into their unique genetic profile , which may be used to inform personalized health strategies in consultation with their physicians.
- Personalized results (delivered in 4-8 weeks)
Track your baby's microbiome development over time
You can learn the most about your baby’s health and protect against chronic conditions by tracking changes on their gut health over their first 1000 days.
We recommend testing at 7 days old, and every 3 months until your baby is 18 months old.
A Tiny Health subscription gets you:
- Exclusive $30 discount off each test kit
- Your kits delivered when you need them
- Enter your payment details only once
- Pay only when the tests are shipped
- Free shipping
- Skip or cancel anytime
How to join the study
If you're interested, complete the Eligibility Screening Questionnaire below. Qualified participants will receive an email confirmation with an online consent form to sign, followed by instructions to complete enrollment.
1x Mess-free Tiny Health Gut Microbiome stool test to further understand how gut health relates to mental health
- Track essential bacteria that support gut health, metabolic health and fight inflammation
- Gut Health Report with personalized recommendations (delivered in 2-3 weeks)
1x GenePro test
- This information provides insights into their unique genetic profile , which may be used to inform personalized health strategies in consultation with their physicians.
- Personalized results (delivered in 4-8 weeks)
1x Mess-free Tiny Health Gut Microbiome stool test to further understand how gut health relates to mental health
- Track essential bacteria that support gut health, metabolic health and fight inflammation
- Gut Health Report with personalized recommendations (delivered in 2-3 weeks)
1x GenePro test
- This information provides insights into their unique genetic profile , which may be used to inform personalized health strategies in consultation with their physicians.
- Personalized results (delivered in 4-8 weeks)
1x Mess-free Tiny Health Gut Microbiome stool test to further understand how gut health relates to oral microbiome
- Track essential bacteria that support oral health, metabolic health and fight inflammation
- Gut Health Report with personalized recommendations (delivered in 2-3 weeks)
How to join the study
If you are interested, please contact us at [Insert contact details]
Tiny Health helps you to optimize your health from within
Tiny Health offers microbiome testing for every stage of life, from womb through adulthood. Tiny Health gives individuals personalized insights and evidence-based recommendations to improve lifelong health from the inside out.
Tiny Health’s mission is to improve health outcomes of future generations through evidence-based insights.
Targeted nutrition guided by the science of your genes
At Neurobiologix, we believe better health begins with better understanding. Through advanced genetic insights and biological intelligence, we help uncover the unique factors that influence how your body functions. Our mission is to transform complex science into personalized, actionable insights that empower you to take a more informed and proactive approach to your health.
How does the Research Edition work?
Apply for the study
- Complete the qualification survey via the button on this page. Qualified individuals will receive an Informed Consent for signature and a purchase link for the Tiny Health & Neurobiologix Test Kit Bundle.
- Both tests will be mailed to you, where you can collect your two samples at-home and mail them back to our respective labs with pre-paid shipping envelopes.
- You will fill out health history and sample surveys upon sampling.
Send in your samples
- Your microbiome sample will be processed in a CLIA-certified and CAP-accreditied lab and using proprietary technology, You will receive strain-level insights and a complete list of all microbes in the gut microbiome including bacteria and fungi; as well as virus, parasites, and archaea in the gut microbiome test. Results will take 3-4 weeks to arrive.
- Your saliva sample will be processed in a CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited lab, where your DNA is extracted and read using genetic testing technology that looks at about 654,000 spots in your DNA. We then focus on specific genes to see how your body may handle key processes—including serotonin (which affects mood), methylation (how your body processes and uses nutrients), your gut lining, and inflammation. Results will take 4-8 weeks to arrive.
Receive gene and gut test results
- Receive actionable, and evidence-based recommendations to help understand your health and course-correct gut imbalances that may help with mental health symptoms.
- The microbiome results report and action plan and the Neurobiologix genetic report are not associated with the research study.
How do we look at the microbiome?
High resolution analysis
We use shotgun metagenomics, a technology used in microbiome research. Make informed decisions with a comprehensive list of microbes found in your sample.
Functional insights
Through functional profiling, we tell you what microbes are present, how much of them are there, and what they’re actually doing.
Targeted suggestions
Get actionable advice tailored to your age and unique test results. Our at-home tests empower you with strain-level detail and precision science.
Your privacy comes first
We are dedicated to safeguarding your personal information at every turn and we will never sell your personal information. Your data is encrypted with high security standards to ensure complete confidentiality.
CLIA & CAP certified lab
Your samples are processed at a U.S. clinical-grade lab to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of test results.
Meet our supporters:
Medical Advisors
Integrative Pediatrician and Pediatric Functional Medicine Expert
Founder, Healthy Kids Happy Kids
Executive director, G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience, UCLA; Author of The Mind-Gut Connection
Demarest Lloyd Jr Endowed Chair in Food Allergies; Senior Pediatrician, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Co-Director of Food Allergy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Ruben Mars is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University
Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Manitoba; Co-Director, Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Center (MILC); Deputy Director, CHILD Cohort Study
Board-Certified Pediatrician, Creator of Raising Amazing Podcast
Medical Advisor; Practicing OB/GYN Hospitalist Physician, Creator and Host of The All About Pregnancy & Birth Podcast
Associate Clinical Professor, UCSF; Pediatrician and former Chief Innovation Officer, Kaiser Permanente
Professor Emeritus of Microbiology & Immunology, Cornell University
Interested? Join this study
If you are interested, please complete the survey. Qualified individuals will be contacted by the study coordinator to provide consent and enroll in the study.