Developing biologics to treat gut diseases
Official title: Engineering Biologics for treatment of enteric diseases
Funded at Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr · NIH-10991424 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to create oral treatments for gut issues like diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease, aiming to make them safer and more effective by focusing the medicine right where it's needed in the stomach.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | November 30, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $362,876 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI180650-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10991424 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from enteric diseases such as acute diarrhea or inflammatory bowel disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with enteric diseases that do not respond to biologic treatments or those with conditions unrelated to the gastrointestinal tract may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating biologics that can be delivered orally to treat enteric diseases like acute diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease. The approach aims to overcome the challenges of traditional biologics that are administered systemically, which can lead to side effects and reduced effectiveness due to the unique environment of the gastrointestinal tract. By engineering a stable protein scaffold and a specialized delivery platform, the research seeks to enhance the local concentration of the treatment in the gut while minimizing systemic exposure. This could lead to more effective and safer treatment options for patients suffering from these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide patients with more effective and safer treatments for enteric diseases with fewer side effects.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing localized biologic treatments for gastrointestinal conditions, indicating that this approach may be viable.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Zhilei — Texas A&m University Health Science Ctr
- Study coordinator: Chen, Zhilei
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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.