Gut microbiome clues for Parkinson’s disease progression
Official title: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study of gut microbiota in Parkinson's disease
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11372253 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study looks at how gut bacteria and their chemicals relate to Parkinson’s disease over time to find potential biomarkers and new treatment ideas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $738,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK140936-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372253 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who can provide stool samples and complete regular clinical assessments.
✕Less likely to help
People unable to provide stool samples or complete longitudinal follow-up may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows people with Parkinson’s disease to see how their gut microbes change as their symptoms evolve. It will collect clinical data and stool samples, and use advanced analyses to link microbial patterns with disease progression. The team will use innovative methods to track which microbes are present and what they’re doing over time. The goal is to identify biomarkers and potentially tailor gut-focused approaches to help manage PD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to gut-based biomarkers and new interventions to slow or modify PD progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests gut microbiome changes are linked to PD, but clear causal relationships and biomarkers are still being established.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xie, Tao — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Xie, Tao
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease: how gut bugs relate to symptoms and progression
A multi-year study will look at gut bacteria and related markers in people with Parkinson’s disease to understand how the gut-brain connection may influence symptoms and progression.
-
Gut-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s Disease: biomarkers and procedures to track progression
A patient-focused program to study how gut health and the brain interact in Parkinson’s disease using biomarkers and clinical procedures.
-
Gut-brain connections in Parkinson’s disease and how they relate to disease severity and progression
A study at Rush University Medical Center will look at how gut health and brain disease interact in people with Parkinson’s to better understand how the illness grows and gets worse.
-
Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease
This project looks at gut bacteria and the chemicals they make in people with Parkinson's disease over time to find patterns linked to symptoms and progression.
-
Gut–brain connections in Parkinson's disease
This project adds gut and brain tests to look for gut-based signs that track Parkinson's disease progression in people living with Parkinson's.
-
Understanding gut bacteria in Parkinson's disease
This research explores how gut bacteria might be connected to Parkinson's disease in people.
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.