How pacemaker cells help the colon make coordinated movements
Official title: Role of interstitial cells of Cajal in patterned colonic motor activity
Funded at University of Nevada Reno · NIH-11323992 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether special 'pacemaker' cells called interstitial cells of Cajal help produce the organized colon contractions that affect people with bowel motility problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nevada Reno NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Reno, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2019 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $608,430 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK120759-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323992 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with chronic colonic motility disorders (for example, slow-transit constipation) who want to learn about research that may lead to future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with unrelated health issues or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
You would hear that researchers are studying interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the colon to understand how they create calcium signals and organize muscle activity. They will use laboratory experiments with animal models and colon tissue to image calcium waves, record muscle contractions, and change ICC activity using genetic or chemical tools. The team will map how ICC interact with smooth muscle cells and enteric nerves to produce the patterned, propulsive contractions that move stool. Understanding these mechanisms could explain some forms of constipation and other colonic motility disorders and point to new treatment targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal cell-level targets that lead to new treatments for constipation and other colonic motility disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked ICC problems to human motility disorders, but detailed work on colonic ICC driving propulsive contractions is only beginning and remains an active area of basic research.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nevada Reno
Reno, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baker, Sal — University of Nevada Reno
- Study coordinator: Baker, Sal
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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.