How small intestine bacteria may cause abdominal pain
MECHANISMS OF VISCERAL PAIN DRIVEN BY SMALL INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA
This project studies whether bacteria and their products in the small intestine cause belly pain in people with irritable bowel syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141685 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear that the team uses human small intestinal microbes transplanted into germ-free mice to see how those microbes change gut sensation. They test microbial metabolites on isolated sensory nerve cells and on gut lining cells in the lab to see how signals are produced. They also use a novel ex vivo spinal cord–small intestine preparation to trace how gut signals reach the spinal cord. Together these approaches aim to identify the cells and molecular steps that make the gut overly sensitive.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with irritable bowel syndrome who have frequent abdominal pain and are willing to provide small intestinal samples or undergo clinic procedures would be the most relevant participants.
Not a fit: People whose pain results from structural GI disease, non-microbial causes, or other distinct diagnoses may not receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that target small intestinal microbes or their metabolites to reduce abdominal pain in IBS.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown gut microbes and their metabolites can drive abdominal pain—mostly focusing on the colon—so applying these methods to the small intestine builds on known findings but is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kashyap, Purna C — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Kashyap, Purna C
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.