Prof. Kieran O’Doherty was interviewed for a Nov. 1 Science article about a “poop vault” of human feces that could preserve the gut’s microbial biodiversity and help treat disease.

A professor in U of G’s Department of Psychology, O’Doherty discussed the ethics of microbiome research. He said that beyond archiving the diversity of the human microbiome, scientists should find ways to preserve that resource by helping traditional peoples retain their sovereignty and natural resources.

O’Doherty studies the social and ethical aspects of science and technology, especially in health and illness. He examines genetic testing, biobanks, salmon genomics, human microbiome science and childhood vaccination.