Gut-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s Disease: biomarkers and procedures to track progression
Official title: The Bidirectional Gut-Microbiota-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s disease: integrating mechanistic biomarkers of disease severity and progression
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-11582685 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-focused program to study how gut health and the brain interact in Parkinson’s disease using biomarkers and clinical procedures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $200,000 |
| NIH project number | 3U01DK140923-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11582685 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Parkinson’s disease who are already enrolled in the parent study and are able to provide stool samples, skin biopsies, and complete questionnaires.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not able to provide biospecimens or participate in the specified procedures may not benefit.
What this research studies
This program builds on an established Parkinson’s study and adds new measurements and samples that help map disease progression. Participating sites will perform specialized tests, collect stool and skin samples, and gather patient-reported information. The study also harmonizes data so findings can be used broadly to understand how the gut influences Parkinson’s symptoms over time. It does not create new patient enrollment targets; instead it enhances current efforts with additional resources and analyses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better ways to monitor and understand Parkinson’s progression through gut-brain biomarkers.
How similar studies have gone: Similar gut-brain biomarker studies have shown promising links, but this project focuses on a standardized, consortium-wide approach to improve comparability.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keshavarzian, Ali — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Keshavarzian, Ali
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease: how gut bugs relate to symptoms and progression
A multi-year study will look at gut bacteria and related markers in people with Parkinson’s disease to understand how the gut-brain connection may influence symptoms and progression.
-
Gut microbiome clues for Parkinson’s disease progression
A study looks at how gut bacteria and their chemicals relate to Parkinson’s disease over time to find potential biomarkers and new treatment ideas.
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Gut-brain connections in Parkinson’s disease and how they relate to disease severity and progression
A study at Rush University Medical Center will look at how gut health and brain disease interact in people with Parkinson’s to better understand how the illness grows and gets worse.
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Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease
This project looks at gut bacteria and the chemicals they make in people with Parkinson's disease over time to find patterns linked to symptoms and progression.
-
Gut–brain connections in Parkinson's disease
This project adds gut and brain tests to look for gut-based signs that track Parkinson's disease progression in people living with Parkinson's.
-
Understanding gut bacteria in Parkinson's disease
This research explores how gut bacteria might be connected to Parkinson's disease in people.
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.