Jeff Leach: the science of the microbiome and poo

Jeff Leach is co-founder of the American Gut Project which is creating a database of gut microbes from faecal samples posted to him from all over the world.

The Good Sh*t TV series follows a group of overweight young women taking part in a trial using faecal matter from other people to help lose weight.

PhD student Thilini Jayasinghe hand crafts pooh pills from faecal microbes. She's closest to the dirty work involved in developing the therapy.

Jeff Leach says the research into faecal transplants is still early stage. He appears in The Good Sh*t on TV on Tuesdays and online.

Jeff Leach has been leading the charge on what our microbiome means for our health and wellbeing. He’s the co-founder of the American Gut Project and one of those involved in the TV3 series, The Good Sh*t, which has followed the fortunes of four overweight young women trialling a new therapy to help lose weight. They have been taking capsules that contain bacteria from the faecal matter of fit and healthy people, carefully chosen by scientists. The trial relates directly to the latest research and uncovering  the science of the human microbiome. Jeff talks about what the microbiome does and whether that science could hold the secret to tackling the obesity epidemic.