How aging gut microbes and immune aging affect drug‑resistant infections in nursing homes
Aging Microbiome, Immunosenescence, and risk of Multi-drug Resistant Organism Colonization and Infection in the Nursing Home
This project looks at whether changes in gut bacteria and aging immune systems make nursing home residents more likely to carry and get infections from drug‑resistant bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11239780 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will screen nursing home residents for key drug‑resistant gut bacteria using rapid, strain‑level molecular tests. They will collect stool and blood samples and track how these organisms spread within the nursing home community. Lab studies will mimic aging changes in the gut microbiome and immune system to see how those changes promote colonization and infection. The team will combine population sampling with laboratory experiments to link microbiome shifts and immune aging to infection risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are nursing home residents and frail older adults willing to provide stool and blood samples and share information about health and antibiotic use.
Not a fit: Younger people and community‑dwelling adults without nursing home exposure are unlikely to be directly affected by this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help prevent and better treat drug‑resistant gut infections in nursing home residents by pointing to earlier detection methods or new prevention strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked the gut microbiome to C. difficile and MDRO risk, but combining rapid strain detection with lab studies of aged microbiomes and immune aging is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haran, John Patrick — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Haran, John Patrick
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.