Enteric neuron and intestinal stem cell signals shaping gut barrier
Official title: The Enteric Neuron-Intestinal Stem Cell Axis in Barrier Function
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11623911 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project from the Medical University of South Carolina explores how nerve cells in the gut talk to the lining and stem cells to defend the digestive tract, using human organoids and mouse models.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | April 3, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $226,500 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM130457-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11623911 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include patients with intestinal diseases or those contributing tissue or organoids for research, including individuals undergoing procedures that provide biopsy material for organoid creation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without gut barrier issues or those not contributing tissue or organoids may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies how enteric neurons communicate with intestinal epithelial cells and stem cells to maintain gut barrier function. It will look at serotonin-based signaling, especially the 5-HT4 receptor, and how these signals influence epithelial protection, growth, and repair during infection and disease. Researchers will use mouse models and patient-derived organoids to test how neural control affects mucosal defense and barrier integrity, including responses to infections and treatment-related injury. They will also test whether drugs that target HT4 signaling could modulate these processes in disease models. The study combines gene profiling, advanced imaging, nerve tracing, and functional tests to map neuroepithelial interactions at multiple levels.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new ways to support gut barrier health during infections or treatment-related damage and guide therapies that target neural signaling to protect the intestine.
How similar studies have gone: Similar studies in neuro-epithelial signaling have shown that neural inputs can influence epithelial behavior, suggesting this approach could yield impactful insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Hailong — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Hailong
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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.