Gut microbes and immune signals that lead children at risk to develop celiac disease
Microbial and Host Factors in the Progression to Celiac Disease
This project looks at whether differences in gut microbes and a child's immune and genetic markers help explain which children with celiac risk go on to develop celiac disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11327416 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a parent's point of view, the team will enroll children who have positive celiac blood tests or who are having an upper endoscopy and will collect stool, blood, and biopsy samples. They will use genetic testing for HLA risk types, blood antibody measurements, and 16S sequencing to profile gut microbes. Children will be followed over time to see who progresses from potential celiac to intestinal damage and who does not. The goal is to link patterns in microbes and host responses to later development of celiac disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children—often under age 11—who have positive celiac serology or known HLA-DQ2/DQ8 genetic risk, especially if they are undergoing evaluation with endoscopy.
Not a fit: People without celiac risk genes or adults already diagnosed and strictly avoiding gluten are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify early markers to predict and prevent progression to celiac disease and help guide care before irreversible gut injury occurs.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked gut microbiome differences to celiac disease, but prospective studies in children aiming to predict progression remain limited.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holtz, Lori R — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Holtz, Lori R
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.