Hello everyone. This module addresses inflammation in the microbiome. Why have a module on inflammation in the microbiome? In short, there's a growing body of evidence to suggest that inflammation in the microbiome are central to most of the disease states that we discussed in previous modules. Moreover, there is research suggesting that in the cannabinoid system and cannabinoids more broadly influence inflammation in the microbiome. So what is the microbiome? Each of us carries around a bunch of microbiota or bacteria in our guts. It weighs about as much as our brain, crazy to think about. We've learned over the last few years, maybe the last decade that the composition of the microbiota, the diversity in the balance between good bacteria and bad bacteria have a lot to do with inflammation and physical health, as well as mental health. Inflammation refers broadly to our body's response to an irritant, or infection, or injury, or stress. Chronic inflammation can be bad for the body and the brain, and plays an important role on many of the disorders discussed in previous modules. A number of preclinical studies suggest that cannabinoids may moderate inflammation, and may influence the microbiome. Clearly, this is a very important area of research, and may eventually shed some light on how cannabis and specifically CBD and THC influences disorders discussed in previous modules. In our research, we routinely assess inflammatory biomarkers in blood samples, and we routinely collect gut microbiome samples in all of our participants because we believe that these two sources of data will be important for identifying how cannabinoids may influence health. In any case, given the role of inflammation in the gut microbiome more generally, we would be remiss if we did not cover it in this course. I hope you enjoy this module.