Gut and nose microbes and children's immune health
Project 2: Relating the functional capacities of the GI and nasal microbiomes to immune development in children from traditional and modern exposures
Comparing gut and nose microbes in young children raised on farms, in Amish families, or in modern homes to learn how those microbes shape immune development and allergy risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322014 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or your child join, researchers will collect blood, stool, and nasal samples over time and connect those samples to health information. The team will sequence microbial DNA and RNA and measure small molecules made by microbes to see what the microbes can do and which ones are active. They will compare children from traditional agrarian (Amish), other farm, and non-farm households in the WISC+ cohorts to find patterns linked to healthier immune development. The goal is to integrate these data to identify microbial products or communities that protect against respiratory allergies and infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Infants and young children enrolled in the WISC+ cohorts, especially those from Amish/traditional agrarian, farm, or non-farm households (typically enrolled in early life).
Not a fit: Adults, older children not enrolled in the WISC+ cohorts, or people seeking immediate treatment for existing severe allergies are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this observational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to microbial features or products that protect children from allergies and suggest new prevention or treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous farm and Amish studies have shown lower allergy and asthma rates linked to microbial exposures, but using longitudinal multi-omics across gut and nasal sites is a newer and more detailed approach.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ong, Irene M — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Ong, Irene M
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.