How immune cells in the stomach may drive gastroparesis
From stomach tissue to cellular mechanisms: unraveling the role of mononuclear phagocytes in the pathophysiology of gastroparesis
This work looks at whether specific immune cells in the stomach differ in people with gastroparesis and how those differences link to delayed emptying and symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144478 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine stomach tissue from people with and without gastroparesis using advanced single-cell methods (including mass cytometry) to map immune cell types and states. They will compare immune cells in both the stomach mucosa and muscularis layers and measure how cell changes relate to gastric emptying and symptom severity. The team will analyze numbers and function of mononuclear phagocytes (a group that includes macrophages and related cells) to identify dysregulated populations. Results aim to point to cellular mechanisms that could become targets for new treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults diagnosed with gastroparesis who can provide clinical information and agree to stomach biopsy or tissue sampling at the study site.
Not a fit: People without gastroparesis or those unable or unwilling to undergo endoscopic tissue sampling are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify immune cell targets that lead to new therapies to reduce nausea, pain, and delayed gastric emptying in gastroparesis patients.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data suggest immune cell differences in gastroparesis, but translating these cellular findings into effective treatments is a new and still unproven approach.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Idoyaga, Juliana — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Idoyaga, Juliana
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.