How H. pylori drives stomach inflammation and cancer risk
H. pylori-induced Inflammation and Gastric Cancer
This project studies how certain H. pylori bacteria together with diet and iron levels raise the chance of stomach cancer and whether a clinically available electrophile scavenger can reduce that risk for people with H. pylori.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307027 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are looking at how specific H. pylori strains (especially cag+ strains that deliver the CagA protein) change stomach cells and activate stem-cell pathways that can lead to cancer. They combine lab models, molecular studies, and analyses of host factors like bile acids, iron deficiency, and high-salt diets to see how environment and bacteria interact. The team has identified a chemical pathway that creates damaging reactive electrophiles and tested a clinically available electrophile scavenger as a possible protective approach. The overall goal is to link bacterial strain, host response, and exposures to find ways to prevent or lower gastric cancer risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with chronic H. pylori infection—particularly those known or suspected to carry cag+ strains—or individuals with chronic stomach inflammation, iron deficiency, or high dietary salt intake who are at elevated risk for gastric cancer.
Not a fit: People without H. pylori infection or those with cancers unrelated to the stomach are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to repurposed drugs or dietary strategies that lower stomach cancer risk in people infected with high-risk H. pylori strains.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked cag+ H. pylori to higher cancer risk and preclinical models support electrophile-targeting approaches, but clinical prevention strategies remain largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peek, Richard M. — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Peek, Richard M.
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.