How stress affects gut health and inflammation
Official title: Brain-gut interactions regulating stress-related gut inflammation and barrier permeability
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10876365 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how ongoing stress affects gut health, especially for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and depression, to find out how stress can cause inflammation and gut issues, which might help us discover new ways to treat these problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $90,000 |
| NIH project number | 5K99DK137037-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10876365 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing chronic stress and gastrointestinal issues, particularly those diagnosed with IBS or MDD.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without chronic stress or gastrointestinal disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between chronic stress and gut health, particularly focusing on conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its relationship with stress-related disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD). The study aims to understand how psychosocial stress leads to inflammation and changes in gut barrier function by examining the interactions between the brain and gut. Using advanced techniques like viral tracing and brain imaging, the research will identify specific brain regions that influence gut health during stress. This could provide insights into new treatment approaches for patients suffering from these interconnected conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for patients with IBS and related stress disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the gut-brain connection, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chan, Kenny — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Chan, Kenny
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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.