Gut-brain links after early life stress in teens
Official title: Microbial and Environmental Modulation of Novel Gut-Brain Pathways Following Early Life Stress
Funded at Osu Center for Health Sciences · NIH-11444526 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A teen-focused study exploring how stress early in life and gut bacteria influence mood and behavior, with potential ways to improve brain health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Osu Center for Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tulsa, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $413,972 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AT013366-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444526 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are youths aged 12–20 who have experienced early-life stress or are at risk for mood and cognitive challenges.
✕Less likely to help
No direct benefit if an individual is not in the teen age range or has not experienced early-life stress as defined by the study models.
What this research studies
This project looks at how early life stress may change gut bacteria and, in turn, affect mood and learning in youths ages 12–20. Researchers will test whether specific gut bacteria like Roseburia can alter brain signaling and behavior, using models that mimic early stress and environmental enrichment. They will also visualize how brain cells and supporting astrocytes respond during these gut-brain changes and test interventions that might reverse negative effects by shaping the gut microbiome. The work combines animal models and advanced imaging to map causal pathways from gut microbes to brain plasticity and behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, interventions targeting gut microbes could become new ways to support mood and cognitive health in adolescents exposed to stress.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research links gut microbes to brain function, but this study aims to uncover specific mechanisms in adolescence, which is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Osu Center for Health Sciences
Tulsa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mitra, Swarup — Osu Center for Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Mitra, Swarup
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.