Gut bacteria and permeability linked to Kawasaki disease in kids
Official title: Role of intestinal microbiome and gut permeability in the development of Kawasaki Disease vasculitis
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11414974 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pediatric-focused study exploring how the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier may influence Kawasaki disease and its inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $605,375 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL139766-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11414974 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with or at risk for Kawasaki disease or related pediatric vascular inflammation could benefit from future translational steps.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy children or those with illnesses not related to Kawasaki disease are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying a mouse model of Kawasaki disease to understand how gut bacteria, gut permeability, and bacterial metabolites affect the development and severity of this pediatric vasculitis. They have found that changes in gut microbes and higher levels of a inflammatory metabolite called TMAO may worsen disease, while others like A. muciniphila may be protective. The project uses the LCWE-induced model to test how altering the microbiome and metabolites could modify vascular inflammation, with the aim of identifying potential targets for prevention or treatment. Findings could pave the way for microbiome- or gut-health-based strategies to reduce heart damage in affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to microbiome- or metabolism-based approaches to prevent or lessen heart-related complications in Kawasaki disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in this model has linked gut microbiota and metabolites to vascular inflammation, suggesting a promising, but still exploratory, approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Noval Rivas, Magali — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Noval Rivas, Magali
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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.