How bile acids and the FXR receptor control immune cells in the gut
The regulation of gut macrophage’s function by the bile acid receptor FXR
This project will learn how bile acids and their receptor FXR change gut immune cells in people with inflammatory bowel disease who are at risk for colitis-associated colorectal cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11353870 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view as a patient, the team wants to understand how bile acids and the FXR receptor shape the behavior of gut macrophages, the immune cells that watch over the intestine. They will use lab-grown cells and 3-D gut models plus animal experiments to recreate inflammation and early cancer changes and to track FXR signaling. The researchers will also study how damaged gut lining and ongoing inflammation upset bile acid balance and weaken FXR responses. Ultimately they aim to map how gut macrophages, FXR, and other cell types interact during colitis-associated colorectal cancer development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with ulcerative colitis or other long-standing inflammatory bowel disease who are at increased risk for colitis-associated colorectal cancer.
Not a fit: People without inflammatory bowel disease or those with typical sporadic colorectal cancer are less likely to benefit directly from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to detect or treat inflammation-linked colon cancer in people with long-standing IBD.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked bile acids and FXR to gut health, but defining how FXR controls gut macrophages during colitis-associated cancer is a more recent and relatively novel area.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fu, Ting — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Fu, Ting
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.