Gut-Liver-Bone clues to growth problems in malnourished children
Official title: Gut-Liver-Bone Axis in Malnutrition-related Growth Faltering
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11595691 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in malnourished children and a mouse model looks at how the gut, liver, and bone interact to cause growth faltering and tests a bile-acid therapy that could improve growth and reduce inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,001 |
| NIH project number | 1R56HD114783-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11595691 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with malnutrition and growth faltering, and potentially those who can participate in related clinical follow-up studies.
✕Less likely to help
Children without malnutrition or growth failure may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
This project explores how malnutrition affects gut health, inflammation, and bone growth. By studying MN children and a mouse model, researchers will test how disrupted bile acid signaling in the liver–gut axis influences growth plates and overall growth. The team will use 16S sequencing to profile gut bacteria and examine how oral bile-acid therapy with CDCA might restore balance and support healthy growth. The work aims to identify mechanisms that could be targeted to help children recover and grow better.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new treatments that improve growth and reduce inflammation in malnourished children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that gut microbiota and bile acid signaling influence growth and inflammation, with promising results in animal models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Melby, Peter C. — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Melby, Peter C.
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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.