Genetics Core for Mucin-Degrading Bacteria
Official title: Genetics Core for Mucin Degrading Bacteria
Funded at Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope · NIH-11417313 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A team will build a genetics core to study how gut bacteria like Akkermansia and Bacteroides break down mucus, with potential to improve health in people undergoing stem cell transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Duarte, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $472,874 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL170046-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417313 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or others with mucus-layer–related gut health concerns.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or those without mucus-related gut issues may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The project creates a Genetics Core that supports understanding how mucin-degrading bacteria affect the mucus layer in the gut. It will generate bacterial mutants, perform high-throughput genetic screens, and enable recombinant protein production. It also provides tools for analyzing how these bacteria degrade mucins using labeled glycans and human mucin. Bioinformatic help with metagenomic data will be available to identify strains and compare genomes. This work aims to link bacterial genetics to mucus health and transplant-related complications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this core could lead to better management of gut mucus integrity and reduce infection risks for vulnerable patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work established genetic tools for Akkermansia; this project builds on that to expand understanding and applications.
Where this research is happening
-
Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
Duarte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davey, Lauren Elizabeth — Beckman Research Institute/city of Hope
- Study coordinator: Davey, Lauren Elizabeth
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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.