How dietary fiber and gut bacteria shape immune cells in the small intestine
Role of dietary fiber-microbiota Interactions in the development and function of small intestinal T cells
Researchers are learning how types of dietary fiber and the bacteria they feed change small-intestine immune cells to help people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143144 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work looks at how different kinds of fiber change gut bacteria and the immune T cells that live in the small intestine. Researchers will use lab models (including mice), bacterial experiments, and analyses of immune cells and microbial products to trace how diet-driven changes affect immune responses. They will link those laboratory findings to Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis by comparing relevant samples or data. The aim is to identify specific fiber-microbiome interactions that could guide future dietary advice or therapies for IBD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, or volunteers willing to provide stool or biopsy samples for analysis.
Not a fit: People whose digestive problems are not immune-driven or those unwilling to provide samples or travel for visits may not receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to fiber-based diets or microbiome-targeted treatments that reduce gut inflammation in people with IBD.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show dietary fiber can change the microbiome and influence gut inflammation, but the specific effects on small intestinal T cells remain under active study.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cervantes Barragan, Luisa — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Cervantes Barragan, Luisa
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.