A human gut organoid model with gut-like movement for drug testing
Official title: A Novel Human Intestinal Organoid Platform with Peristaltic Function for Drug Discovery and Pre-Clinical Testing in GI Motility Disorders
Funded at Intero Biosystems INC. · NIH-11408276 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new human gut organoid platform that moves like real intestines is being developed to help discover and test drugs for GI motility disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Intero Biosystems INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 14, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $349,824 |
| NIH project number | 1R43TR006331-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408276 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with GI motility disorders or researchers studying these conditions who may benefit from improved drug discovery tools.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not involved in drug development or those whose condition is not GI motility may not directly benefit from this platform.
What this research studies
This project creates a scalable, patient-relevant model of the human intestine that shows peristaltic contractions and contains key cell types. It combines organoid biology with automated imaging and advanced molecular profiling to generate detailed, multimodal readouts. Researchers aim to provide a predictive system for how drugs affect gut movement and safety in humans, using patient-relevant biology to guide discovery and screening.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this platform could speed up the development of safer and more effective treatments for GI motility disorders by providing better preclinical predictions.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data show functional peristaltic activity in human organoids, with plans to validate and scale, indicating potential but still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Intero Biosystems INC.
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Childs, Charlie — Intero Biosystems INC.
- Study coordinator: Childs, Charlie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.