Gut bacteria and a key fat molecule may shape malaria severity
Official title: The Gut Microbiome-Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) Axis in Severe Malaria
Funded at Hunter College · NIH-11441337 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small, patient-friendly study will explore how gut bacteria and a fat signaling molecule called S1P influence how severe malaria can be in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hunter College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $235,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI202561-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11441337 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children in malaria-endemic regions, especially those affected by severe malaria, could benefit from future therapies derived from this research.
✕Less likely to help
The study is primarily preclinical; current patients would not receive a new treatment as part of this grant.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the gut microbiome, especially Bacteroides, interacts with the S1P signaling pathway to affect malaria severity. Researchers will use preclinical models to examine how changes in gut bacteria alter S1P levels and malaria outcomes, aiming to map the pathway from the gut to disease severity. The findings could reveal new angles for preventing severe malaria, potentially guiding future therapies or prevention strategies that involve the gut or S1P system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify new targets to prevent or lessen severe malaria in children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior evidence links gut bacteria to malaria severity in models, with preliminary data supporting a gut-S1P connection; this grant tests the mechanism more directly.
Where this research is happening
-
Hunter College
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mandal, Rabindra Kumar — Hunter College
- Study coordinator: Mandal, Rabindra Kumar
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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.