The Gut Microbiota for Health Expert Panel (GMfH) was launched in 2013 and represents a group of multi-disciplinary members (including primary and secondary care clinicians, microbiologists, dietitians, research scientists and regulators) with expertise and interest in the gut microbiota and its role in health and disease.


Georgina Hold is now Chair of the panel, with Horace Williams as Vice Chair. Richard Hansen, previous Chair, was instrumental in organising our recent successful conference in Edinburgh (see below). Three invited international speakers, and many GMfH panel members, delivered a programme of thought-provoking and state-of the-art talks.
Mona Bajaj-Elliott delivered a moving tribute to Nigel Klein, a valued former panel member. An authoritative review paper, based on the programme, is underway.

The panel continues to focus on all aspects of the gut microbiome in the context of health, but specifically on the regulation of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and the production of high-level scientific articles. Another key focus is to raise awareness and understanding of the gut microbiota among the general public, clinicians and the media.

Goals

• Networking. To provide a regular forum for those interested in clinical gut microbiota-related science to meet, discuss and integrate.
• Collaboration. To identify gaps in research, and to initiate and support clinical science.
• Education. To host educational events, including workshops and conferences.
• Expertise. To provide an authoritative voice on the gut microbiota, within BSG-aligned publications and via other channels.
• Advocacy. To increase awareness and understanding among clinicians of the gut microbiota and its impact on health, and to act as a conduit for clinicians to access and understand what is reliably known in the field and to support best practice.
• Standards. The panel, which uniquely includes engagement from a UK regulator, plays an important role in the development of clinical research standards and guidelines in the field. For instance, the two iterations of the joint BSG/Healthcare Infection Society FMT guidelines (see below) were instigated and led by GMfH members (Gut 2018 and 2024). Also, in response to clinical demand, the panel established a forum for case-by-case clinical guidance on the compassionate use of FMT beyond the C. difficile and research settings.

Recent Achievements

• Contribution to the International Consensus Statement on Microbiome Testing in Clinical Practice (Porcari et al 2025)
• ‘Transforming Medicine through the Gut/Microbiota Interface: Towards Microbial Therapeutics for Human Disease’: a conference in Edinburgh, 6-7^th March 2025
• Instigation and formulation of the first BSG/HIS guidelines for FMT , and the subsequent update (Gut2018 and 2024)
  • Mullish et al. 2024
  • An overview of these guidelines
  • BSG video on the 2024 updated FMT guidelines
• Instrumental in the formulation of the NICE guidelines for FMT treatment of refractory or recurrent Clostridiodes difficile (2021)
• In conjunction with Guts UK, production of information leaflets for the general public:
  • An explanation of commercial gut microbiome (poo) testing
    • Short leaflet from the GMfH panel
    • Longer leaflet in conjunction with Guts UK
  • An explanation of faecal microbiota transplantation.
  • An explanation of the role of the gut microbiome in health and disease. 
• Letter to Archives of Disease in Childhood, calling for clinical availability of next generation microbiome sequencing.

Featured paper of interest

Porcari et al (2025) International consensus statement on microbiome testing in clinical practice. Lancet Gastro Hepatol 10 (2): 154 – 167.

As we move towards a world where there is the potential for the gut microbiota to become a routine tool for the diagnosis, management and treatment of various diseases, it is important that there is solid scientific evidence to support these claims. To address this several GMfH panel members were recently involved in an international consensus project to establish ethical, organisational and technical rules for the development, commercial use and clinical implementation of microbiota tests. The panel comprised a multidisciplinary consortium of experts in this field including clinicians, bioinformaticians, microbial ecologists and clinical microbiologists.

Current Members