Gut bacteria and colorectal cancer risk in people with ulcerative colitis
Official title: Elucidating the role of gut microbiota in colitis-associated colorectal cancer
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11241980 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether certain gut bacteria help protect against or promote colorectal cancer in people who have ulcerative colitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $615,878 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA276173-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11241980 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with ulcerative colitis, especially those undergoing colonoscopy or biopsy who can provide tissue or stool samples.
✕Less likely to help
People without inflammatory bowel disease, with colorectal cancer unrelated to colitis, or anyone unwilling/unable to provide tissue or stool samples are unlikely to directly benefit from participating.
What this research studies
The team will compare microbes found on colon tissue from people with ulcerative colitis, including those who develop colitis-associated colorectal cancer. They will grow key bacteria in the lab and test their effects on patient-derived colon organoids (mini-colons) to see how microbes change cell behavior. The researchers will also use mouse models to confirm whether specific bacteria drive or block tumor formation. Together these approaches aim to identify microbial species and molecular mechanisms that influence cancer risk in ulcerative colitis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or detect colitis-associated colorectal cancer by targeting harmful bacteria or boosting protective ones.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked the gut microbiome to IBD and colorectal cancer but has not clearly shown which microbes cause or prevent cancer, so this project builds on prior findings using organoids and animal models.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Ru — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Chen, Ru
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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.