Gut Microbes, Aging, and Heart Health in American Indians
Official title: Gut microbiome, aging and cardiometabolic diseases in American Indians
Funded at University of South Florida · NIH-11321466 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the tiny living things in our gut, called the gut microbiome, might be connected to aging and heart-related conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure in American Indian communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $615,314 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AG068865-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11321466 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This work focuses on understanding the gut microbiome, aging, and cardiometabolic diseases in American Indian populations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not part of the American Indian population or those without cardiometabolic conditions may not directly benefit from this specific population-focused research.
What this research studies
Our bodies change as we age, and some people develop conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. These conditions are more common in American Indian communities, and we know that the bacteria, viruses, and fungi living in our gut play a big role in our overall health. When these gut microbes are out of balance, it can lead to chronic health problems. This work aims to understand how the gut microbiome changes with age and how it contributes to these health conditions, considering factors like genetics and lifestyle.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding the gut microbiome's role could lead to new ways to prevent or manage age-related heart and metabolic diseases, especially for American Indians.
How similar studies have gone: While the link between gut microbiota and metabolic disorders is recognized, this work addresses specific knowledge gaps regarding microbial signatures, host factors, and population differences in American Indians.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Florida
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Jinying — University of South Florida
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Jinying
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Repurposing Transformers to Map Gut Microbiome and Aging Brain in Alzheimer’s
Aims to use advanced AI models to understand how gut microbes and aging interact with brain changes related to Alzheimer’s disease, hoping to find factors that could reduce risk or slow progression.
-
Understanding how gut bacteria affect brain aging and Alzheimer's risk
This study is looking at how the bacteria in our gut might affect brain health as we get older, especially for people at risk of Alzheimer's, and it aims to find ways to lower the chances of developing dementia by involving patients in brain scans and memory tests.
-
Investigating how gut bacteria change with age and affect health in monkeys.
This study is looking at how changes in gut bacteria as we age can affect our health, like frailty and diabetes, and it’s designed for older adults who want to understand how their gut health might influence their well-being as they get older.
-
Using gut bacteria to help prevent muscle loss in older adults.
This study is looking at how the bacteria in our gut might help older adults keep their muscles strong when they can't move around, like after an injury or surgery, by testing if transferring gut contents from active mice can make a difference.
-
Investigating how the gut microbiome changes as people age
This study is looking at how the bacteria in our gut might change as we get older and how those changes could affect health issues like memory problems, weight gain, and heart disease, so if you're an older adult, your participation could help us learn how diet and lifestyle impact your health as you age.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
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.