How gut bacteria handle iron from heme in your digestion
Official title: Discovering how microbiome species metabolize heme and distribute iron
Funded at Montana State University - Bozeman · NIH-11331590 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how friendly gut bacteria use iron from your diet and how that affects your iron levels and health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Montana State University - Bozeman NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bozeman, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2020 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $436,150 |
| NIH project number | 2R35GM136390-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11331590 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at risk for iron-deficiency anemia or GI conditions linked to iron metabolism, who may contribute samples or data.
✕Less likely to help
People without GI issues or iron metabolism concerns may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Researchers will explore how common gut bacteria, especially Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, metabolize heme in the anaerobic environment of the GI tract and how this process influences the iron that the body can absorb. The project builds on 15 years of biochemistry work, focusing on the hmu heme utilization system to understand iron release and potential risks like GI inflammation or colon issues. By combining laboratory experiments with gut ecosystem context, the study aims to map how bacterial iron processing interacts with human iron homeostasis. Results could highlight new angles for preventing or treating iron-deficiency anemia and GI diseases related to iron metabolism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better strategies for managing iron availability from the diet and reducing GI-related iron disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that gut bacteria can process heme, but the exact mechanisms and impact on human iron uptake are still being clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Montana State University - Bozeman
Bozeman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dubois, Jennifer L — Montana State University - Bozeman
- Study coordinator: Dubois, Jennifer L
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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.