Mushroom Science started as a personal project in 2019 — a shared folder of PubMed bookmarks between three colleagues frustrated by the gap between what the research actually said and what supplement brands were claiming. That folder became a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet became this.
The functional mushroom space is genuinely exciting from a scientific standpoint. The compounds being discovered — hericenones, cordycepin, lentinan, ganoderic acids — have real, documented mechanisms of action. The clinical data, while still growing, is increasingly solid.
But the industry built around these compounds is largely a mess. Marketing claims run well ahead of evidence. Dosages are invented. Extraction methods that determine bioavailability are ignored. Consumers have no reliable way to evaluate what they're reading.
We don't sell anything. We don't take sponsored content. We don't have affiliate relationships with supplement brands. Our only output is structured, source-linked summaries of published research — and we intend to keep it that way.
Former research fellow at Oregon Health & Science University. PhD in Natural Products Chemistry. Has published 12 peer-reviewed papers on beta-glucan immunomodulation.
MSc in Neuroscience from University of British Columbia. Focuses on fungal compounds and the central nervous system — specifically NGF pathway research and cognitive aging.
Ethnobotanist with 8 years of field research across East Asia documenting traditional fungal medicine use. Bridges the gap between traditional knowledge systems and modern clinical evidence.
We only index studies published in peer-reviewed journals indexed in PubMed, Cochrane, or Scopus. Preprints and non-peer-reviewed sources are excluded unless clearly labeled.
Each species receives an evidence grade: Strong (multiple RCTs), Moderate (observational + limited RCT), or Emerging (in vitro / animal only). We never conflate preclinical findings with human evidence.
Team members disclose any prior industry relationships. We do not accept sponsored content, paid placements, or affiliate arrangements of any kind. Our domain and hosting costs are self-funded.
Species profiles are reviewed quarterly and updated when significant new studies are published. Study entries include the original publication date so readers can assess the age and relevance of the evidence themselves.
Daniel, Sarah, and Marco begin sharing PubMed bookmarks in a Google Drive folder after meeting at a natural products conference in Seattle.
The folder becomes a structured spreadsheet with 80 indexed studies. Shared privately with colleagues at OHSU and UBC.
Mushroom Science launches publicly with 200+ indexed studies, species profiles for 8 fungi, and a commitment to editorial independence.
Library grows to 340+ studies across 10 species. Interactive world map added. Weekly study additions ongoing.
We welcome study suggestions, corrections, and collaboration from researchers. If you've published in the functional fungi space and want your work indexed, reach out.
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