Gut bacterial interactions in chronic kidney disease

Interspecies microbial interactions in CKD

NIH-funded research University of California at Davis · NIH-11349608

This work looks at how changes in gut bacteria and the toxins they make could make chronic kidney disease worse, aiming to find ways to slow kidney damage for people with CKD.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California at Davis NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Davis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11349608 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you have CKD, this project looks at how changes in your gut bacteria and their chemicals might speed up kidney damage. Researchers think inflammation in the intestine leads to growth of certain bacteria (Enterobacteriaceae) that use nitrate to grow and make toxins like indole. They will study patient samples and laboratory models to see whether these bacterial changes actually drive faster loss of kidney function. The goal is to find targets for reducing toxin-producing bacteria and slowing CKD progression.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults living with chronic kidney disease, especially those willing to provide stool or clinical samples and share medical history, would be the most relevant candidates.

Not a fit: People without CKD or those already on long-term dialysis are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to reduce toxin-producing gut bacteria and slow loss of kidney function in people with CKD.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked the gut microbiome to CKD and shown modest benefits from dietary or probiotic approaches, but the specific molecular link between intestinal iNOS-driven nitrate respiration and toxin-producing Enterobacteriaceae is a novel area.

Where this research is happening

Davis, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Conditions Chronic Disease
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.