Insights from 15 years of collaborative microbiome research with Indigenous peoples in the Peruvian Amazon

Building sustainable research partnerships with Indigenous peoples: insights from 15 years of collaboration

Researchers in the field of microbiology have outlined a framework for building sustainable partnerships with Indigenous peoples based on their 15-year collaboration with the Matsés, a group of people who live in the Amazon rainforest on the border of Peru and Brazil. Their findings were published in Trends in Microbiology.

Key principles for building trust

To build trust, the researchers worked in collaboration with the Matsés through all stages of the research project, from developing research methods to disseminating results.

The researchers emphasize that establishing genuine partnerships with Indigenous peoples requires sustained investment in trust-building, honest engagement with historical and structural injustices, and a recalibration of scientific practices to prioritize respect, autonomy, and justice.

Understanding cultural differences

By studying the microbiomes of the Matsés and other Indigenous peoples, the researchers hope to understand how the human gut microbiome evolved and how it is impacted by access to processed foods and pharmaceuticals.

To establish their partnership, the researchers began by conducting cultural research with Matsés leaders, community members, local health personnel, and political authorities. They developed their microbiome research protocols in collaboration with the Matsés people.

Adapting research methods

The researchers note that achieving trust and effective communication with Indigenous peoples in a research setting is about more than the language barrier. It also requires understanding key cultural differences and maintaining transparency.

For example, rather than conducting individual interviews, they surveyed groups of people in «mini-assemblies» to allow for dialogue and reflection among community members.

Ensuring ethical practices

In response to concerns among the Matsés that their biological samples might be commercialized, the researchers introduced a benefit-sharing clause in their protocols, which they developed in collaboration with the Matsés. Any net profits from the commercialization of microbial strains isolated from Matsés would be split evenly.

The researchers also organized for community members to receive general health screenings, including for intestinal parasites to address a common concern in the region. The screenings conducted were open to all community members, independent of their participation in the study.

Conclusion

The researchers conclude that ethical research is more than compliance with external standards. It requires integrating the perspectives of all stakeholders. Only through such collaborative frameworks can we responsibly access knowledge with potential global relevance.

Provided by Cell Press

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