Persephone Biome study: be paid to Poop for the Cure

Lumpie · June 2019

Yes, patrons, strange but true... it seems that someone will actually pay you for stool samples. And give you a free t-shirt.

The Persephone Biome study... Poop for the Cure... is studying how "a healthy microbiome promotes normal immune function to prevent and fight cancer."

According to their website:

Cancer and Poop: What is the Connection?

– Cancer drugs can work better or worse depending on the bacteria in a person's gut.

– Helpful bacteria can help the immune system destroy cancer cells.

– Harmful bacteria can cause inflammation that lowers the immune system's ability to fight cancer.

– How can we know what is in a person's gut? Poop! By examining stool samples, we can develop ways to fight cancer.

You can help. How? By simply donating your poop!

– If you are a person with cancer, either receiving treatment or in remission, we want your stool.

– If you are healthy, but have a history of cancer in your family, we want your stool.

– Donating stool is easy! Persephone Biome™ will give you an easy-to-use kit with prepaid shipping.

– You will receive a $50 reward card and a T-shirt for your efforts!

If you are interested in signing up, you may go to their website:

https://persephonebiome.com/

Please note that this study should not be confused with the Persephone clinical trial which examined the optimal duration of treatment with Herceptin.

I have no disclosures to make. I am not connected to the study in any way except having registered to participate. I am not compensate for publishing or recruitment.

Acknowledgement to Ingerp who recommended a post about this study.

Lumpie · June 2019

While I am on the subject... I know that many of us want to be able to do SOMETHING...ANYTHING.... about this dreadful disease. If we are not practitioners or bench scientists, then communication, advocacy, studies and clinical trails may seem like all we can do ... aside from charitable giving or rendering to direct aid to those in need. So... I am thinking about starting a new thread about studies - not clinical trials - related to cancer that are actively recruiting participants. I think it might be useful in allowing us to share information about something we can DO. Thoughts?

GG27 · June 2019

looks like they only want US participants. There was nowhere on their site to email to ask.

Ingerp · June 2019

Thanks, Lumpie. I've already signed up and shared with a friend. I think a thread about studies looking for participants would be great. My background is statistics and I try to be someone's data point when I can. These things don't work unless people sign up.

Lumpie · June 2019

GG27: Thanks for this clarification. That's a bummer. There may be regulatory issues related to transpiration of medical specimens across national boarders and privacy issues related to medical data which make multinational participant management a challenge. Good to know...

It is kind of surprising that there is not even a media contact. They may lack staff to manage responses timely.

Lumpie · June 2019

Ingerp: Amen to that! Some of the studies I read are small but meaningful. If I can help move the needle even a little, I want to be all over it! I think I will start up a "studies" thread.... Stay tuned!