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

WESTPORT, MA – October 28, 2026 – The OpenBiome Foundation today announced the launch of the Fecal Microbiome Therapeutics (FMT) & Stool Banking Toolkit.

The Toolkit is the first, free comprehensive guide for physicians and researchers at accredited healthcare institutions interested in creating an in-house stool bank operation either for treatment of their C. difficile (C.diff) patients who are not responding to standard treatments and/or for utilization of fecal materials for research. Studies utilizing FMT range from peanut allergies and depression to indications like IBD, Graft Vs. Host, Multiple Sclerosis, and others.

The “FMT people,” OpenBiome Foundation successfully bridged a critical treatment gap for patients with C. diff, creating the nation’s first and only national stool bank. They turned healthy people’s stool into 70,000 investigational FMT for patients with the anti-biotic resistant disease (C.dff) and their work is credited with laying the groundwork for a new field of medicine and biotech.

The Toolkit provides guidelines for establishing a stool bank. Successfully developed by OBF, they are easily adaptable to the needs of researchers and clinicians. They include 70+ technical documents, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work Instructions, and material specification sheets) that went through a full quality control process to cGMP specifications.

Operating under the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Enforcement Discretion, the OpenBiome Foundation became a pioneer – de-risking the field and proving the safety and viability of FMT for investment, treatment and research. Today, two FDA approved products have entered the market and the Foundation has ceased its distribution program, adhering to FDA guidelines.

“We firmly believe the future of health lies within the untapped potential of the microbiome. As an innovator we have the knowledge and expertise to continue to advance the field,” said Julie Barrett O’Brien, CEO, OpenBiome Foundation. “Building on our successes, we are openly sharing our “know-how: to advance treatment and research. The field is advancing but greater innovation is needed. The Tool Kit is an important part of our mission – it serves the patient, the field.”

Further Queries

The Toolkit was curated by Michael Bougas, Program Director, OpenBiome Foundation, and questions can be directed to: [email protected].

# # #

The mission of the OpenBiome Foundation is to expand patient access to microbiome therapies and fuel scientific discoveries that shape the future of health. The Foundation builds partnerships, funds innovation, and shares open-access tools—so that the impact of microbiome science lives on, long after their mission is complete.