Gut barrier and antibiotics: how gut health affects inflammatory arthritis
Official title: Role of the gut barrier in inflammatory arthritis
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11417167 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Antibiotic use may increase the risk of inflammatory arthritis by changing the gut, and this project looks at how those gut changes influence joint inflammation in people with arthritis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $143,949 |
| NIH project number | 5K08AR084597-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417167 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile idiopathic arthritis) who have or are at risk for gut dysbiosis and joint inflammation.
✕Less likely to help
If a patient’s arthritis is not linked to gut microbiome changes, they may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant focuses on how antibiotic-induced changes in the gut microbiome and the loss of certain SCFA-producing bacteria affect gut and joint inflammation. Researchers will use advanced sequencing and spatial techniques to study gut tissue and joint cells, aiming to link gut dysbiosis to altered immune signaling in the synovium. The work includes exploring how epigenetic and transcriptional changes in resident synovial cells may worsen arthritis, and whether giving short-chain fatty acids could temper disease severity. The project combines functional experiments with high-resolution sequencing to uncover mechanisms that could be targeted to improve outcomes for people with inflammatory arthritis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to new strategies to prevent or reduce arthritis flares by restoring gut health and SCFA levels.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows gut microbiome alterations can influence systemic inflammation, supporting a potential path to impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Fang — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Fang
Related research
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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.