NIH-funded research R01 grant

How gut bacteria influence blood cell production and clotting

Official title: Megakaryocyte regulation by the gut microbiome

Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11045057 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how the bacteria in your gut might influence the cells that help your blood clot, especially during infections like COVID-19, to find new ways to manage issues with blood clotting.

More Gut Microbiome research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWeill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project startJune 1, 2023
Project endMarch 31, 2027
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$651,165
NIH project number5R01HL169989-03
Project IDNIH-11045057 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with severe COVID-19, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus, and those experiencing abnormal blood clotting.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not have issues related to blood clotting or are not affected by viral infections or autoimmune diseases may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the relationship between gut microbiome and megakaryocyte function, which is crucial for platelet production and blood clotting. It aims to understand how gut bacteria, particularly those that produce short-chain fatty acids, can affect the differentiation and activity of megakaryocytes, especially during viral infections like COVID-19. By exploring this connection, the research seeks to uncover new mechanisms that could help manage abnormal blood clotting associated with severe infections and autoimmune diseases.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for managing blood clotting disorders in patients with severe infections and autoimmune diseases.

How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the gut microbiome's role in immune responses and blood health, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
    New York, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Zeng, Melody Y — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
  • Study coordinator: Zeng, Melody Y

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Multi-agent AI to annotate enzymes in the human gut microbiome

    A team at a major university will build an AI system that automatically curates and labels the functions of enzymes in the human gut microbiome to speed up understanding their health effects.

    NIH research University of South Florida · Tampa, United States · NIH-11594384

  • Mapping how gut bacteria transform drugs

    Scientists will study how the gut microbiome changes thousands of drugs into new forms, which could affect how well a medicine works or whether it causes side effects.

    NIH research Stanford University · Stanford, United States · NIH-11550022

  • Aflatoxin exposure and child growth in Guatemala

    A study in rural Guatemala will track how exposure to aflatoxin relates to growth and gut health in young children.

    NIH research Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · Scottsdale, United States · NIH-11513260

  • Gut bacteria that can make cancer immunotherapy less effective

    This project will see if reducing chronic inflammation driven by certain gut bacteria can help immunotherapy work better for people whose cancers have stopped responding.

    NIH research University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · Houston, United States · NIH-11478145

  • How gut bacteria affect how cancer drugs work

    This project looks at how the bacteria in your gut might change how well and with what side effects fluoropyrimidine cancer drugs like 5-FU work in people.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11473234

  • Gut bacteria and cancer drugs: how your gut may change chemotherapy effectiveness

    This project studies how the gut microbiome might affect how well certain chemotherapy drugs work and their side effects in people with cancer.

    NIH research University of California, San Francisco · San Francisco, United States · NIH-11473233

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.