InnerBuddies signs research agreement with Aarhus University in Denmark
The InnerBuddies team recently signed a data-sharing agreement with Aarhus University in Denmark. Dr. Sonja Perkovic, an associate professor at Aarhus University, is particularly interested in the gut-brain axis and the impact of the gut microbiome on the human brain.
As a spin-off from Maastricht University and focused on delivering science-driven innovations in the gut microbiome field, the InnerBuddies team is continuously working with universities across the world in transferring science from universities into practical functionality in the InnerBuddies platform that is understandable and usable by consumers and healthcare practitioners.
Therefore, the InnerBuddies team recently signed a data-sharing agreement with Aarhus University in Denmark. Dr. Sonja Perkovic, an associate professor at Aarhus University, is particularly interested in the gut-brain axis and the impact of the gut microbiome on the human brain.
Most of InnerBuddies customers opt-in to the usage of their data for scientific purposes. InnerBuddies will share an anonymous dataset from customers who have chosen to opt-in to use their data for scientific research with Dr. Perkovic. This dataset will comprise gut microbiome composition data (both bacteria and bacteria functions) together with some specific survey data (sex, age, answers to questions around “stress”, and answers to questions around “sleep”). Dr. Perkovic will use this data to perform analyses and publish the results. The shared data will only be used for this particular study and will be removed/deleted after the study has been concluded—all according to the EU GDPR regulations.
Sonja Perkovic is an associate professor at Aarhus University with a background in behavioral science. Her research focuses on understanding human behavior to help people make better decisions, particularly in health-related domains. She has worked on topics such as healthy food choices and reducing exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Most recently, she has become interested in exploring the relationship between the gut microbiome and decision-making and is beginning to develop research in this area.
Her profile on the Aarhus University’s website can be accessed here.
InnerBuddies and Aarhus University are also exploring further follow-up projects focused on the relationship between human decision-making and the gut microbiome: does the gut microbiome composition impact human decision-making, and does it lead to bias in decision-making?