Gut fungi and how they affect intestinal inflammation and immune responses
Commensal fungal communities in the regulation of immunity and intestinal inflammation
['FUNDING_R01'] · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · NIH-11336826
This research looks at whether the fungi living in the gut change inflammation and treatment responses in people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11336826 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team studies fungal communities in stool and colon tissue to see how they influence gut inflammation and immune reactions. They compare different Candida strains found in patients, test how these strains interact with immune cells and antibodies, and use laboratory models to explore their effects. The researchers also connect fungal changes to clinical outcomes from treatments like fecal microbiota transplantation to see if fungal clearance or immune responses predict benefit. The project combines human samples, clinical data, and lab experiments to link fungal behavior with patient symptoms and treatment effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with inflammatory bowel disease, especially ulcerative colitis, who can provide stool samples or colon biopsies and may be undergoing or considering treatments such as FMT.
Not a fit: People without inflammatory bowel disease or those with non-inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help predict who will respond to therapies like fecal microbiota transplantation and point to new treatments that target harmful gut fungi.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier work, including a placebo-controlled fecal microbiota transplantation trial in ulcerative colitis, found links between fungal changes (including Candida) and treatment response, but the area remains early and not yet conclusive.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ILIEV, ILIYAN DIMITROV — WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- Study coordinator: ILIEV, ILIYAN DIMITROV
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 below.