Boosting the gut's natural defenses to prevent colitis
Regulation of Mucosal Lymphocytes
This work looks at whether targeting a gut surface protein (CEACAM1) helps intestinal cells make protective antimicrobial peptides to keep harmful bacteria away for people with or at risk of colitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330451 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about research that studies how a protein called CEACAM1 on intestinal cells helps those cells sense microbes and release antimicrobial peptides that protect the gut lining. The team will use lab-grown intestinal cells and animal models to determine which CEACAM1 forms and which cell surfaces trigger these defenses. Investigators also plan to create high-affinity molecules that bind CEACAM1 to boost this protective response. Ultimately they want to see if boosting CEACAM1-driven antimicrobial production can block bacterial invasion and lower the chance of colitis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inflammatory bowel disease or those at increased risk of colitis would be the most likely candidates for future CEACAM1-targeted trials.
Not a fit: People without gut inflammation or conditions related to microbial invasion are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that strengthen the gut’s own antimicrobial defenses to reduce infections and inflammation in people with colitis.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies support the protective role of antimicrobial peptides in the gut, but directly targeting CEACAM1 to boost this response is a novel and not yet widely tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blumberg, Richard S — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Blumberg, Richard S
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 below.