Gut bacteria and steroid hormones in inflammatory bowel disease
Official title: Gut Microbiome Steroid Hormone Metabolism in Inflammatory Disease
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11356380 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in people and mice looks at how gut bacteria may change steroids that reduce inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | May 19, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $243,824 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI199298-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11356380 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adults with inflammatory bowel disease and healthy controls who consent to stool sample collection for microbiome analysis.
✕Less likely to help
People without IBD or those unwilling to participate in stool sample collection may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores a new way the gut microbiome could affect inflammatory bowel disease by turning active anti-inflammatory steroids into inactive forms. Researchers will compare gut bacteria from people with IBD to healthy controls and use mouse models with defined bacteria to see how these enzymes influence inflammation and response to steroid treatment. The work focuses on a specific bacterial pathway and how it might alter host anti-inflammatory signaling in the gut. Findings could reveal a novel target to improve steroid effectiveness in IBD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to strategies that enhance steroid effectiveness or reduce inflammation in IBD by modulating gut bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Some studies show gut bacteria influence drug metabolism, but this specific glucocorticoid-metabolizing pathway in IBD is exploratory and novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Light, Samuel — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Light, Samuel
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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.