Decoding how gut bacteria transform plant compounds to affect health
Official title: Deciphering polyphenol metabolism by the human gut microbiome
Funded at Harvard University · NIH-11391635 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the gut microbiome breaks down polyphenols from foods and how those changes might influence diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $832,101 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK145059-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11391635 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with metabolic, cardiovascular, inflammatory, or cancer risk who are curious about how diet and gut bacteria may influence their health.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without interest in gut microbiome interactions or those not consuming polyphenol-rich diets may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Doctors and researchers at Harvard will study how gut bacteria metabolize plant polyphenols and what those metabolites do in the body. They will develop new experimental workflows to map which microbes and enzymes are involved and how the products interact with human biology. The work combines genetics, microbiology, and high-throughput testing to link microbial metabolism to health outcomes. The aim is to build a clearer picture of how diet and the gut microbiome together affect disease risk and progression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could clarify how everyday foods influence health via the gut microbiome and point toward dietary or microbiome-targeted strategies to reduce disease risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that gut microbes modify polyphenols and that these metabolites can affect health, but a comprehensive mechanistic map is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balskus, Emily Patricia — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Balskus, Emily Patricia
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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.