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Q&A with Michael Bougas, Program Director at the OpenBiome Foundation

OpenDialog October 2026 – Issue Four This month’s OpenDialog features OpenBiome Foundation’s Program Director Michael Bougas. An eight -year veteran of the Foundation, he supports healthcare partners treating C. Difficile infections (C.diff) and advances the organization’s work in microbiome-based therapeutics. Mike focuses on ensuring partners have access to the tools and materials they need to care for patients, […]

OpenBiome Foundation Launches First Free Fecal Microbiome Therapeutics (FMT) & Stool Banking Kit for Clinicians and Researchers

The OpenBiome Foundation today announced the launch of the Fecal Microbiome Therapeutics (FMT) & Stool Banking Toolkit.

Q&A with Christian John Lillis, CEO and Co-Founder of the Peggy Lillis Foundation

OpenDialog July 2026 – Issue Three

This month’s Q&A features the CEO and Co-Founder of the Peggy Lillis Foundation (PLF), the leading nonprofit organization that is building a nationwide C. diff (Clostridioides difficile) awareness movement by educating the public, empowering advocates, and shaping policy. He is Christian John Lillis, a tireless advocate, fundraiser and thought leader; and most critically, Christian is the eldest son of Peggy Lillis who died tragically at the age of 56 from C. diff.

Q&A with Dr. Cliff McDonald, CDC

OpenDialog March 2026 – Issue One

Patient outcomes may depend on science that’s moving faster than any of us can track. OpenBiome Foundation’s monthly newsletter cuts through the noise – delivering focused conversations with leading researchers and clinicians on the microbiome discoveries most relevant to your practice. The first edition features Dr. L. Clifford McDonald, MD, Associate Director for Science in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the foremost experts in Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) epidemiology.

OpenBiome Foundation Launches First Free Fecal Microbiome Therapeutics (FMT) & Stool Banking Kit for Clinicians and Researchers

The OpenBiome Foundation today announced the launch of the Fecal Microbiome Therapeutics (FMT) & Stool Banking Toolkit.

Q&A with Michael Bougas, Program Director at the OpenBiome Foundation

OpenDialog October 2026 – Issue Four


This month’s OpenDialog features OpenBiome Foundation’s Program Director Michael Bougas. An eight -year veteran of the Foundation, he supports healthcare partners treating C. Difficile infections (C.diff) and advances the organization’s work in microbiome-based therapeutics. Mike focuses on ensuring partners have access to the tools and materials they need to care for patients, while continuously improving the behind-the-scenes systems that support them.

Her son needed a fecal transplant for a fearsome C. diff infection. Getting one required a tortuous journey

STAT Feature Article: By Eric Boodman

March 23, 2026

Advancing Care for Pediatric Patients with C. difficile: Insights from a Clinical Webinar on Investigational FMT

OpenBiome convened a live webinar featuring a distinguished panel of physicians from Boston Children’s Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, and the University of Minnesota. The discussion focused on the clinical management of pediatric patients with Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection, with a particular emphasis on diagnostic considerations and the use of investigational fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). 

Effectiveness and Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Clostridioides Difficile Infection: Results From a 5344-Patient Cohort Study

Studies of the microbes living on and in our bodies are conducted mainly in a few rich countries, squandering opportunities to improve the health of people globally.

STAT OpEd: Fecal transplants are saving lives — but are now at risk

Policy Outlook: Building a microbiome-informed approach to agri-food systems and childhood nutrition policies

As Microbiome Science Forges Ahead, Will Some Be Left Behind?

Letter from the CEO: The Road Ahead as the OpenBiome Foundation

Boosting microbiome science worldwide could save millions of children’s lives

AGA calls on FDA to Retain Access to Conventional FMT

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: An Introduction to FMT, its History, and Therapeutic Potential

OpenBiome Foundation Launches to Catalyze Breakthroughs in Microbiome Science 

Science in the Field: Dr. Walter Sandoval’s Mission to Map Rural Microbiomes in Paraguay

OpenBiome, winner of the 2023 GBCHealth Futurist Award

How your microbiome can improve your health

How to Recruit and Engage Stool Donors

Drug Companies and Doctors Battle Over the Future of Fecal Transplants

Drugs From Bugs: Why Gates, Zuck And Benioff Think The Next Blockbusters Will Come From Inside Your Gut 

A User’s Guide to Cheating Death: Germs

Fecal microbiota transplantation for refractory immune-checkpoint-inhibitor colitis.

The Power Of Your Microbiome – OpenBiome

Clinical Considerations for Donor Screening

From Stool Donation to FMT Preparation: The Logistics of FMT Manufacturing

When is an FMT Treatment Ready for Use? Health Monitoring and Material Release

Tracking Patient Outcomes and Adverse Events: Considerations for Pharmacovigilance

FMT Update & Future Directions

Outcomes of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection

Donor Screening for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

Efficacy of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Clostridium difficile Infection in Children

Julie Barrett O’Brien MC/MPA 2002: A career journey from coffee beans to public health

Efficacy of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation: Current Evidence on Clinical Cure for FMT for the Treatment of Recurrent C. difficile Infection

Evaluating a Patient for FMT (For the Treatment of C. difficile)

Current Evidence on the Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) for C. difficile infection