Million Microbiome of Humans Project

Mapping One Million Microbiomes

The Million Microbiome of Humans Project tackles a clear problem: the human microbiome is still poorly understood. Despite thousands of studies, data are fragmented—different countries, age groups, and body sites are unevenly represented, and open-access datasets are limited. While researchers recognize the microbiome’s role in health and disease, there’s no global baseline.

MMHP aims to change that. Using MGI’s DNBSEQ™ technology, the project will collect, sequence, and analyse one million microbiome samples over 3–5 years. Focusing on high-volume types like feces and saliva, and including other accessible body sites, MMHP will create the first comprehensive, publicly available map of the human microbiome—providing a reliable foundation for worldwide research.

Mapping Progress: The Million Microbiome Project

A total of nearly 130,000 samples have been sequenced among 21 institutes and over 10 participating nations throughout Europe, as part of the Million Microbiome of Humans Project (MMHP) that was officially launched in 2019.

The relationship between microbiome and diseases is being valued by more and more people, and many diseases such as metabolic diseases, tumours, neurodegenerative diseases are closely related to microbiome. The human microbiome is affected by many factors. If a larger-scale microbiome database can be established, it will provide important foundations and more possibilities for the future analysis of the relationship between microbiome and human health as well as the treatment of related diseases.

Liu Ruixin

Shanghai National Clinical Research Centre for Metabolic Diseases, China

Microbiomics will be part of precision medicine in the future, and data from the microbiome biobank that will result from MMHP will be leveraged for therapeutic R&D. With 21 public and private institutions and 10+ countries currently involved in MMHP, we are actively looking for more research groups to take part in this landmark international microbiological research partnership and help generate the world's biggest free-access human microbiome database.

Stanislav Dusko Ehrlich

University College London, United Kingdom

We are very focused on data quality, cost and time. After contrasting DNBSEQ™ technology by MGI with other sequencing technologies, we are convinced that MGI's products have met high industry standards and provide a very good user experience," commented Professor Lars Engstrand, Research Director of Centre for Microbial Translational Research (CMTR) at Karolinska Instituted. "MGI's platforms have enabled our team to upgrade our original microbiological research from 16SrRNA gene amplicon sequencing to shotgun metagenomic sequencing. I look forward to introducing more equipment and super-large projects as human microbiome emerges as a crucial diagnostic and treatment method in precision medicine

Lars Engstrand

Centre for Microbial Translational Research, Kraolinksa Institute, Sweden

High-Performance Workflow Powered by Advanced Technology

The MMHP Consortium utilizes state-of-the-art laboratory systems to deliver high-throughput workflows, outstanding accuracy, and premium-quality data. Its streamlined processes allow for the extraction of 96 DNA samples per day and the library preparation of 96 samples per run. By harnessing MGI sequencing platforms and the highly accurate DNBSEQ™ technology, the Consortium consistently achieves reliable and precise results.