How bitter tastes affect our gut and brain communication
Official title: F32 - Bitter chemosensation from gut to brain
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11054550 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how bitter tastes in food and medicine can change the way we eat by exploring how special cells in our gut send signals to our brain, and it’s for anyone curious about how our bodies react to bitter flavors and their impact on our appetite.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $81,370 |
| NIH project number | 5F32DK139628-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11054550 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are interested in how dietary components, particularly bitter foods, affect their eating habits and health.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume bitter foods or have no interest in dietary influences on health may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how bitter compounds in food and medicine influence our eating behaviors by activating taste receptors in the gut. It focuses on specialized gut cells called neuropod cells that detect these bitter signals and send information to the brain via the vagus nerve. By understanding this communication pathway, the research aims to uncover how our body responds to bitter tastes and how this affects appetite and feeding behavior. The study employs advanced techniques to analyze the interaction between gut receptors and brain responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for managing appetite and improving dietary choices based on our understanding of bitter taste signaling.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding taste receptor signaling and its impact on feeding behavior, suggesting that this approach has potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reicher, Naama — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Reicher, Naama
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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.