Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
Jean-Philippe F. Gourdine
Oregon Clinical & Translational Research Institute (OCTRI), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Nazema Y. Siddiqui
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
Amanda Holland
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Thomas Halverson
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
Roberto Limeria
Loyola Genomics Facility, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
David Pride
Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
Lenore Ackerman
Department of Urology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
Catherine S. Forster
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Kristin M. Jacobs
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Krystal J. Thomas-White
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
Catherine Putonti
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
Qunfeng Dong
Department of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
Michael Weinstein
Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
Emily S. Lukacz
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
Lisa Karstens
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Alan J. Wolfe
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
ABSTRACT Urobiome research has the potential to advance the understanding of a wide range of diseases, including lower urinary tract symptoms and kidney disease. Many scientific areas have benefited from early research method consensus to facilitate the greater, common good. This consensus document, developed by a group of expert investigators currently engaged in urobiome research (UROBIOME 2020 conference participants), aims to promote standardization and advances in this field by the adoption of common core research practices. We propose a standardized nomenclature as well as considerations for specimen collection, preservation, storage, and processing. Best practices for urobiome study design include our proposal for standard metadata elements as part of core metadata collection. Although it is impractical to follow fixed analytical procedures when analyzing urobiome data, we propose guidelines to document and report data originating from urobiome studies. We offer this first consensus document with every expectation of subsequent revision as our field progresses.
