How nerve and immune cells interact in the gut
Neuro-immune interactions at the intestinal surface
The team is looking at how gut nerves, support glial cells, immune cells, and microbes cause nerve injury and recovery after infections or antibiotics to help people with lasting gut problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11331963 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your point of view, researchers are examining what happens to the nerves and supporting glial cells that live in the lining of the gut when an infection or antibiotic treatment disturbs the microbes there. They use lab models of infection and antibiotic exposure, test whether restoring microbes helps nerve recovery, and search for microbial metabolites that might cause harm or aid repair. The work examines how immune cells interact with neurons and glia and whether glial cells revert to immature states during recovery. Findings come from tissue and cell analyses and experiments that manipulate the microbiota and candidate metabolites.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of gastrointestinal infection, new or ongoing post-infectious gut symptoms, or recent heavy antibiotic exposure would be the most relevant candidates for related studies or sample donation.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated non-gastrointestinal conditions or those whose symptoms are not linked to enteric nerve or microbiota disturbances are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or reverse nerve damage in the gut after infections or antibiotics, potentially improving long-term digestive symptoms.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and lab studies have shown microbiota and immune-driven effects on enteric neurons, and this proposal builds on promising preliminary data though translation to clinical treatments is still early.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Rockefeller University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mucida, Daniel S — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Mucida, Daniel S
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.