Gut microbes and diarrhea risk in Gulf War veterans
Official title: BCCMA: Targeting Gut-Microbiome in Veterans Deployment Related Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases; CMA1- The Role of GWI Gut Microbiome in Susceptibility to Diarrheal Diseases
Funded at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center · NIH-11213927 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether changes in gut microbes explain why Gulf War and other deployed veterans get frequent diarrhea and related gut problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Jesse Brown VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2022 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005862-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11213927 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with Gulf War Illness or other deployment-related gastrointestinal complaints, especially those with recurrent diarrhea or IBS-like symptoms, would be the best candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without deployment-related gut problems or whose symptoms are caused by unrelated conditions (for example certain surgical complications or cancers) may not benefit from microbiome-targeted approaches.
What this research studies
If you take part, doctors will compare your gut bacteria to other veterans to look for patterns linked to diarrhea. They will analyze stool samples and use lab models to understand which microbes make people more likely to get diarrheal infections. The team will explore whether changing the microbiome could reduce diarrhea and IBS-like symptoms. Work is coordinated across VA centers with the aim of developing microbiome-based treatments for deployment-related gut and liver disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new microbiome-based therapies or probiotics that reduce diarrhea and improve gut symptoms in deployed veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows gut microbes strongly influence susceptibility to diarrheal infections and early microbiome therapies have shown promise, but applying these findings specifically to Gulf War Illness is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dudeja, Pradeep K — Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Dudeja, Pradeep K
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gut health and PTSD in veterans with inflammatory bowel disease
A study explores how the gut microbiome and chronic stress from military experiences may influence inflammatory bowel disease in veterans.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Understanding how gut bacteria affect gastrointestinal diseases in veterans.
This study is looking at how the bacteria in the gut might affect stomach and liver problems in veterans, especially those with Gulf War Illness, to find new ways to help improve their health and ease symptoms like diarrhea and inflammatory bowel diseases.
-
Investigating the gut microbiome's role in gastrointestinal issues among Gulf War veterans
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might influence stomach and liver problems in veterans with Gulf War Illness, and it hopes to find ways to improve your gut health and reduce symptoms by examining your diet and gut bacteria.
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.