Aim protein-based anti-inflammatory therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Official title: Aim protein-based anti-inflammatory therapeutic for the treatment of IBD
Funded at Keybiome INC · NIH-11315413 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new oral protein medicine called AimA is being developed to ease inflammation and restore balance in the gut for adults with IBD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Keybiome INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,287,812 |
| NIH project number | 2R42DK138693-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11315413 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older with inflammatory bowel disease who meet trial eligibility criteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose IBD does not respond to AimA or who experience adverse reactions may not benefit from this therapy.
What this research studies
If you have IBD, this research aims to test a novel oral protein from a bacterial source that could both calm gut inflammation and improve the gut’s microbial balance. The study will look at how AimA behaves in the body, how well it can reach the gut, and whether it reduces inflammatory markers while supporting a healthier microbiome. By focusing on both inflammation and dysbiosis, researchers hope to offer a treatment that may provide lasting relief with fewer side effects than current therapies. This grant funds early development work by KeyBiomed and collaborators to move AimA closer to clinical testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could reduce symptoms and complications of IBD and offer a new approach that also supports a healthier gut microbiome.
How similar studies have gone: Previous attempts to modulate the microbiome and inflammation in IBD have shown potential, but a first-in-class oral protein like AimA is still early in development.
Where this research is happening
-
Keybiome INC
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cheesman, Sarah E — Keybiome INC
- Study coordinator: Cheesman, Sarah E
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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New protein treatment for inflammatory bowel disease
This study is testing a new protein from zebrafish that could help people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, by reducing inflammation and improving gut health, and you might have a chance to join the trials to see how well it works!
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.