Gut microbes and brain function in autism
Official title: The gut brain axis: microbial impact on neural function
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11594150 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring how gut bacteria may influence brain signals and behavior in autism, using worm models to uncover possible links that could someday inform human therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $578,007 |
| NIH project number | 1R56NS144817-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11594150 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with autism spectrum disorder who are interested in microbiome-related approaches and participate in future translational studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without autism or without a future translational path to human studies may not benefit from these findings directly.
What this research studies
This project uses the tiny nematode C. elegans to study how diet and gut bacteria affect neural activity and seizure-like behaviors associated with a migraine-related channel in a model relevant to autism. By testing different bacterial diets and vitamin B12/NO-producing microbes, the study seeks to map how microbial factors can change neural communication and behavior. The findings could point to new microbiome-based strategies to improve brain function for people with autism, pending further validation in higher organisms. The work is mechanistic, focusing on how specific microbes influence neural circuits in a controlled model system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results may guide future approaches to modulate the gut microbiome to support better neural function in autism.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown that gut bacteria can influence behavior in model organisms, supporting the plausibility of microbiome-brain links, but direct translation to autism in humans remains ahead.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alkema, Mark — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Alkema, Mark
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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.