Gut microbes and diarrhea risk in Gulf War veterans
BCCMA: Targeting Gut-Microbiome in Veterans Deployment Related Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases; CMA1- The Role of GWI Gut Microbiome in Susceptibility to Diarrheal Diseases
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 ID | NIH-11213927 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Chicago, United States
- 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
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 below.