Genetic tools to isolate and modify human gut microbes
Official title: Development of genetic systems for the manipulation and targeted isolation of human gut microbes
Funded at University of California Riverside · NIH-11390005 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at making it easier to culture, isolate, and genetically modify specific gut bacteria to understand how they influence health and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $433,125 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI191631-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11390005 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with gut-related conditions or interests in personalized nutrition or microbiome therapies who could provide gut samples or participate in future microbial studies.
✕Less likely to help
People not involved in microbiome studies or those without gut-related health concerns may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project seeks to create new genetic tools and shuttle vectors that let researchers manipulate gut microbes that are hard to grow in the lab. By enabling isolation and genetic study of slow-growing or low-abundance gut bacteria, it aims to uncover how these microbes interact with each other and with the human host. The work involves developing methods to culture, transfer genes, and study the roles of individual microbes in health-related processes like nutrition and immunity. The grant focuses on translating complex gut communities into tractable models that can reveal mechanisms behind disease outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from a deeper understanding of which gut microbes influence health and from new approaches to target harmful microbes or support beneficial ones.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that targeted genetic tools can enable study of complex gut microbes, with growing success in isolating and manipulating certain species.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Riverside
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Degnan, Patrick H — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Degnan, Patrick H
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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.