Ethical challenges and co-laboration framework for global human microbiome research (link.springer.com)

• 71% of microbiome samples come from Europe/US/Canada, biasing global understanding.
• 79.8% of African microbiome studies lack African first/last authors.
• Proposes co-laboration and co-laborative science to decolonize research.

"An article in Microbiome journal identifies three ethical concerns in global human microbiome research: over-representation of European/North American populations (71% of samples from 10% of world population), limited meaningful community inclusion, and scant inclusion of diverse researchers from Global South. The authors propose 'co-laboration'—radical interdisciplinary and intercultural joint labor—and 'co-laborative science' as frameworks to decolonize research, enhance equity, and improve global health. They provide concrete strategies including funding diversification, long-term partnerships, and epistemic justice."