Gut health and PTSD in veterans with inflammatory bowel disease

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This project examines how the gut microbiome interacts with PTSD and host biology to affect diarrhea, gut inflammation, and liver disease in veterans. It uses a collaborative, translational approach across multiple teams to study microbiome changes, gut barrier function, and immune responses in affected individuals. The goal is to identify biological pathways and potential targets that connect deployment-related stress to GI and liver conditions, with an emphasis on care-relevant findings for veterans. Researchers will integrate clinical data, biological samples, and advanced analyses to map how PTSD and gut microbes contribute to disease susceptibility and progression.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Veterans Health Administration
  Nashville, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Wilson, Keith T. — Veterans Health Administration
• Study coordinator: Wilson, Keith T.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

• Understanding Gut Health in Veterans with Deployment-Related GI and Liver Conditions

  This project explores how the gut microbiome and PTSD might be connected to inflammatory bowel disease and other digestive issues in Veterans.

  NIH research Veterans Health Administration · Nashville, United States · NIH-11132581

• Investigating the gut microbiome's role in gastrointestinal and liver diseases in veterans with PTSD.

  This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might affect stomach and liver problems in veterans, especially those with PTSD, and it invites you to share your gut health samples to help us understand these connections better.

  NIH research Veterans Health Administration · Nashville, United States · NIH-10830928

• Investigating the gut microbiome's role in liver disease and PTSD among US Veterans

  This study is looking at how PTSD might impact the health of veterans' livers and gut bacteria, hoping to find new ways to help improve their overall health by understanding the connections between these areas.

  NIH research VA Veterans Administration Hospital · Richmond, United States · NIH-10975928

• Gut microbes and diarrhea risk in Gulf War veterans

  This project looks at whether changes in gut microbes explain why Gulf War and other deployed veterans get frequent diarrhea and related gut problems.

  NIH research Jesse Brown VA Medical Center · Chicago, United States · NIH-11213927

• Gut microbiome, fiber, and short-chain fatty acids in Veterans with Gulf War Illness

  This project tests whether Veterans with Gulf War Illness who have gut problems have lower levels of helpful gut bacteria and short-chain fatty acids, and whether eating more fiber relates to fewer digestive symptoms.

  NIH research Wm S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hosp · Madison, United States · NIH-11132615

• Using diet to prevent Clostridioides difficile infections

  This study is looking at how eating more fiber and less fat might help people, especially those with cancer, avoid infections from C. diff by changing the bacteria in their gut and how their bodies respond to antibiotics.

  NIH research University of Colorado Denver · Aurora, UNITED STATES · NIH-11075786

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.