Antibiotics and gut bacteria in immune-related cancer side effects
Official title: Antibiotics-associated microbiota and functional changes in immune-mediated enterocolitis.
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11371304 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist is studying how antibiotics change the gut microbiome and how these changes affect immune therapy–related gut inflammation in cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $184,030 |
| NIH project number | 1K08AI193408-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11371304 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cancer who are receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors and have or are at risk for immune-mediated enterocolitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing immune checkpoint therapy or those without gut inflammation may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project combines patient care and research to understand why cancer patients on immune checkpoint therapy sometimes develop inflammation in the gut. The plan includes studying gut bacteria changes after antibiotic use and how these changes relate to treatment side effects. The researcher will train in microbiome manipulation and apply new findings to improve management of immune-related enterocolitis in people with cancer. The work may lead to strategies that reduce gut inflammation while preserving the benefits of cancer immunotherapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer gut-related side effects and better tolerance of cancer immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest gut microbiome changes are linked to responses and side effects in immunotherapy, but targeted mechanisms in IMEC require confirmation.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fan, Christopher — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Fan, Christopher
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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.