Fecal microbiota transplant to lower alcohol drinking and related anxiety
Evaluation of individual FMT as a potential therapeutic to reduce ethanol drinking in mice
This project tests whether transferring healthy gut bacteria can lower alcohol use and reduce anxiety-like behaviors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168804 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will transplant gut bacteria into mice to see if those microbes can reduce ethanol drinking and anxiety-like behaviors. They will also test whether adding dietary fiber helps the new bacteria take hold and extend their effects. The work combines expertise from human clinical labs experienced with therapeutic FMT and a rodent behavioral pharmacology lab to study changes in the gut, immune signals, and brain. Findings aim to point toward gut-based treatments for alcohol misuse and alcohol-related liver problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with alcohol use disorder or alcoholic liver disease would be the most likely candidates for future clinical trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People without alcohol-related problems or those who cannot safely receive FMT (for example, some severely immunocompromised patients) may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to gut-focused treatments (like FMT or dietary approaches) that help reduce drinking and improve liver and mental health.
How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical and animal studies, including the investigators' own work in people with cirrhosis, have shown promising results for FMT reducing drinking and liver disease.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bajaj, Jasmohan S — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Bajaj, Jasmohan S
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.