How gut bacteria choose what to eat and how that affects diabetes and heart disease
Official title: Regulation of carbon utilization in gut-resident bacteria
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11581584 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how gut bacteria regulate what foods they use, and how this may influence conditions like type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $112,350 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM147512-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11581584 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with adult-onset diabetes or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who are interested in how gut health relates to their condition.
✕Less likely to help
People without gut-related health issues or those not participating in research activities may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project looks at how bacteria in the human gut decide which nutrients to consume, focusing on carbon utilization in Collinsella species. Researchers will study these bacteria in culture and inside the mouse gut to see how regulatory pathways affect their growth and prevalence. By comparing different strains and using experimental evolution, they aim to identify a common control mechanism for carbon use. The work could reveal how diet shapes the gut microbiome and its links to chronic diseases in people. Findings could guide future strategies to support a healthier gut microbiome in patients with diabetes or heart disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding carbon-use regulation in gut bacteria could lead to dietary or therapeutic approaches that support a healthier microbiome and reduce disease risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has begun to uncover bacterial regulatory pathways, but the specific carbon-catabolite-like mechanisms in Collinsella and their disease links are still being elucidated.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wolf, Ashley Robin — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Wolf, Ashley Robin
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.