Enteric nerve cell loss linked to high-fat diets
Official title: Mechanism of Enteric Neuropathy
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11377475 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand how a Western fat diet may damage nerve cells in the gut and cause constipation, through studies in mice, animal cells, and humangut tissue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2009 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $891,735 |
| NIH project number | 4R01DK080684-15 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377475 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with constipation or gut motility disorders related to aging or metabolic conditions could benefit from advances informed by this work.
✕Less likely to help
Direct participation is not described; findings may eventually inform therapies rather than require immediate patient involvement.
What this research studies
This grant explores how a high-fat Western diet may trigger ferroptosis, a form of cell death, in enteric neurons that control gut movement. Researchers will study primary mouse neurons, an enteric neuron cell line, and human nerve networks from the gut to see how iron and oxidative stress contribute to neuron loss. They will also test whether blocking ferroptosis can protect these neurons in mouse models with high-fat diets. The work combines lab experiments with animal models to link diet, cellular iron handling, and gut motility. If successful, it could clarify targets to prevent or treat diet-related gut dysmotility.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding this mechanism could lead to new ways to protect gut nerves and relieve constipation and related dysmotility.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier data suggest iron-related neuronal stress and ferroptosis are involved in enteric neuron loss under fat exposure; this supports a plausible, though evolving, approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Srinivasan, Shanthi K — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Srinivasan, Shanthi K
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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.