How gut bacterial indoles affect intestinal inflammation and healing
Official title: Indole dysbiosis and mucosal inflammation
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11262908 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether small molecules made by gut bacteria from dietary tryptophan, called indoles, help protect and heal the gut lining in people with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2012 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $544,626 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK095491-13 |
| Project ID | NIH-11262908 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with active inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), especially those with mucosal inflammation or poor wound healing, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without IBD or whose disease is driven by non-microbial mechanisms may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team will study how indoles produced by gut microbes interact with immune proteins and enzymes that can damage the intestinal lining during flares. They will focus on a neutrophil enzyme called myeloperoxidase (MPO) to see if indoles change how much bystander tissue damage occurs and how well wounds repair. The work uses a mix of lab studies with human-derived samples and model systems to map the indole–MPO pathway and test whether altering it improves barrier function. Results could point to drug targets or strategies to help the inflamed gut heal better.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new treatments that protect the gut lining and speed healing during IBD flares.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research supports that indoles can help gut barrier health, but specifically targeting the indole–myeloperoxidase interaction is a newer approach with limited clinical testing so far.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Colgan, Sean P — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Colgan, Sean P
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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.