Gut protist metabolism and its role in shaping the gut microbiome
Official title: Gut protist metabolism as a driver of microbiome community ecology
Funded at Georgia Institute of Technology · NIH-11429146 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project will explore how single-celled gut protists like Blastocystis influence the community of microbes in the human gut and what this means for health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 24, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $393,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM166073-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11429146 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals whose gut microbiomes contain commensal protists like Blastocystis and are interested in advances that may improve gut health.
✕Less likely to help
People without gut protists or with specific conditions not addressed by microbiome-focused therapies may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant studies how gut protists contribute to the ecological balance of the microbiome, focusing on their metabolism and interactions with bacteria. Researchers will map what protists eat and release, and how these metabolic activities affect other gut microbes. The work uses a model system in the lab to understand real-world gut ecosystems and how these protists may help sustain a healthy microbiome. Outcomes could reveal new angles for promoting gut health by considering protists as active community members.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could inform new strategies to support a healthy gut microbiome by including protist interactions in dietary, probiotic, or therapeutic approaches.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows protists are common in healthy guts and linked to health markers, but the mechanisms are not well understood, making this a novel yet promising direction.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lind, Abigail — Georgia Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Lind, Abigail
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.