Meet Manuela
Manuela is a scientific project aimed at reducing our lack of knowledge about women’s health. As the sister project of the successful Belgian study Isala, Manuela will analyze the vaginal and intestinal microbiome, along with factors such as diet and lifestyle, to improve women’s health at all stages of life.
Our objetives
Manuela is a pioneering initiative in Spain that seeks to transform the landscape of women’s health through citizen participation. Our goal is to combat misinformation about women’s health by analyzing the microbiota and considering factors such as diet and lifestyle. Additionally, we aim to improve women’s health, break taboos, and support public policies based on accurate data.
Our inspiration
The name of our project pays tribute to Manuela Solís i Claràs (1862-1910), a pioneer in advocating for women’s rights in the field of health. She was the first woman to earn a medical degree from the University of Valencia. Her legacy, especially in gynecology and maternal-child health, inspires this project, which seeks to improve the well-being of women in Spain and around the world.
Discover microbiota:
Microbiota refers to the community of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea) living in various parts of the human body, including the skin, mouth, intestines, and vagina. These microorganisms are essential for processes like food digestion, vitamin synthesis, pathogen protection, and immune system regulation.
The vaginal microbiota, for example, influences fertility and the prevention of infections.
Additionally, it impacts the health of newborns, as its initial colonization during vaginal birth strengthens their immune system and can affect the health of partners by influencing the risk of infection transmission.
Despite its importance, there is a significant lack of research in this field, particularly regarding women’s health in general.
Through the data we will collect with this project, we aim to identify which foods are advisable to consume during menstruation or which may favor the presence of bacteria that protect against certain vaginal infections.
This research will also help develop new treatments for intestinal or vaginal infections.
Interesting, right? Join MANUELA and discover more aspects of this research.
Research
Discover the ambitious goals of our citizen science project and the different phases of our research program.
Blog
Read more on relevant and interesting topics about women’s health, citizen science, the female microbiota and much more.
Participants
Do you want to be a part of Manuela? Take your chance to participate in our research and become part of our project!
Why Join Manuela?
Manuela is a research project aimed at reducing the lack of knowledge about women’s health by analyzing the vaginal and intestinal microbiome and its relationship with diet and lifestyle. We want to promote social change, break taboos, and combat misinformation on topics such as menstruation, menopause, fertility, sexuality, and more.
Do you want to contribute to this citizen science project?
