The Oxford Centre for Microbiome Studies was founded in 2018 with the goal of becoming one of the UK’s leading centres for microbiome research. It combines interdisciplinary expertise with state-of-the-art research facilities in order to advance our understanding of how microbes impact human health.

In addition to supporting research within the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, OCMS resources are accessible to the broader scientific community. By acting as a hub for microbiome research,  OCMS enables scientists to generate deeper insights into the role of microbes across diverse environments and disease settings.

Work in the Centre covers a range of scales, from cohort-based studies to identify changes in the microbiome in arthritis patients to the identification of bacterial products that have immune-regulatory properties.