Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, with up to 15% of the general population affected, primarily women. The etiology is unknown, there is no cure, and treatment can only be aimed at relieving symptoms that reduce people's quality of life. The bellygenes initiative stems from the need we recognized to compile scattered information into a unified source that could serve as reference for future genetic studies in IBS. Ideally, it will also serve as a good primer to stimulate further discussion and collaboration between researchers, clinicians, funding bodies, and everyone interested. Registration not required.