NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Gut bacteria, colon state, and early colorectal tumor growth

Official title: The gut microbiome, interactions with primed colon states, and effects on adenoma formation and progression

Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11412578 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This grant looks at how the gut microbiome and the lining of the colon work together to influence the formation and growth of early colorectal tumors, with goals to prevent cancer.

More Gut Microbiome research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionFred Hutchinson Cancer Center
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project startSeptember 20, 2022
Project endAugust 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$303,818
NIH project number5U54CA274374-05
Project IDNIH-11412578 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults at risk for colorectal adenomas or cancer, and individuals undergoing colonoscopy or with known adenomas.

Less likely to help

Individuals without risk factors or not undergoing colorectal screening may be less likely to benefit.

What this research studies

This project explores whether the gut bacteria and a primed colon environment promote adenoma formation. It uses advanced microbiome analysis and studies with mouse models that lack normal gut microbes to understand interactions with a primed colon. The researchers also aim to identify microbiome features in humans that distinguish aggressive from slower-growing adenomas. The long-term goal is to develop microbiome-based strategies to prevent adenomas and colorectal cancer.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to personalized prevention strategies that reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by targeting the gut microbiome.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show links between the gut microbiome and colorectal lesions, with growing evidence supporting microbiome-based prevention approaches.

Where this research is happening

  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
    Seattle, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Dey, Neelendu — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
  • Study coordinator: Dey, Neelendu

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Multi-agent AI to annotate enzymes in the human gut microbiome

    A team at a major university will build an AI system that automatically curates and labels the functions of enzymes in the human gut microbiome to speed up understanding their health effects.

    NIH research University of South Florida · Tampa, United States · NIH-11594384

  • Mapping how gut bacteria transform drugs

    Scientists will study how the gut microbiome changes thousands of drugs into new forms, which could affect how well a medicine works or whether it causes side effects.

    NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11550022

  • Aflatoxin exposure and child growth in Guatemala

    A study in rural Guatemala will track how exposure to aflatoxin relates to growth and gut health in young children.

    NIH research Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · Scottsdale, United States · NIH-11513260

  • Gut bacteria that can make cancer immunotherapy less effective

    This project will see if reducing chronic inflammation driven by certain gut bacteria can help immunotherapy work better for people whose cancers have stopped responding.

    NIH research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · Houston, United States · NIH-11478145

  • How gut bacteria affect how cancer drugs work

    This project looks at how the bacteria in your gut might change how well and with what side effects fluoropyrimidine cancer drugs like 5-FU work in people.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11473234

  • Gut bacteria and cancer drugs: how your gut may change chemotherapy effectiveness

    This project studies how the gut microbiome might affect how well certain chemotherapy drugs work and their side effects in people with cancer.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11473233

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.