Exploring how gut bacteria proteins affect cancer treatment response
Mining the microbiome for immunomodulatory microproteins
This study is looking at how certain proteins made by gut bacteria can help boost the immune system's response to cancer treatments, with the hope of turning patients who don’t respond well to these therapies into ones who do, ultimately aiming to improve outcomes for cancer patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168078 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of specific proteins produced by gut bacteria in influencing the immune response to cancer immunotherapy. By conducting high-throughput screenings of microbial proteins, the study aims to uncover how these proteins can modulate the function of macrophages, which are key players in the body's immune response to tumors. The goal is to identify mechanisms that could help convert patients who do not initially respond to immunotherapy into responders, potentially improving treatment outcomes for cancer patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy who have not responded to initial treatment.
Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing immunotherapy or those with non-cancerous conditions may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy in patients who currently do not respond to treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results in understanding the relationship between the gut microbiome and cancer treatment responses, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bhatt, Ami Siddharth — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Bhatt, Ami Siddharth
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.