Finding ways to prevent bowel inflammation in children with Hirschsprung disease
Official title: Mechanistic human studies to prevent Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis
Funded at Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-11022340 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for better ways to prevent and treat a serious bowel inflammation that can happen in kids with Hirschsprung disease, so researchers can help understand why some children do well after surgery while others keep having problems, and find new treatments to keep them healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $722,908 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK141691-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11022340 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease, particularly those experiencing or at risk for enterocolitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Hirschsprung disease or those who have not undergone surgical treatment for the condition may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to explore new methods to prevent and treat Hirschsprung disease-associated enterocolitis (HAEC), a serious bowel inflammation that can occur in children with Hirschsprung disease. The study will investigate the mechanisms behind HAEC, which can lead to severe complications like sepsis. By understanding why some children recover well after surgery while others experience recurrent issues, the researchers hope to develop targeted treatments or preventive strategies. The approach includes analyzing the biological processes involved in bowel function and inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of life-threatening bowel inflammation in children with Hirschsprung disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding bowel inflammation in similar conditions, but this specific approach to HAEC is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heuckeroth, Robert O — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Heuckeroth, Robert O
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.