How sulfites affect colon cell health in children with ulcerative colitis
Official title: Dysregulation of Epithelial Metabolism and Regeneration by Sulfite Exposure in Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11381300 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether common dietary sulfites damage colon stem cells and their mitochondria in children with ulcerative colitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00DK136971-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381300 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with ulcerative colitis who can provide colon tissue during routine colonoscopy or surgery, and possibly pediatric controls, would be ideal contributors for tissue donation.
✕Less likely to help
Adults, people without colon tissue available for donation, or patients whose care does not involve tissue sampling are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
What this research studies
Researchers will use colon tissue from children to grow patient-derived mini-colons (organoids) and expose them to sulfites seen in foods. They will compare organoids from children with ulcerative colitis to those from children without the disease to see differences in mitochondrial function and cell renewal. The team will also study gene activity (including the Mocs1 gene) and chromatin sites that may make some children more vulnerable to sulfite harm. Findings aim to reveal how a common food preservative could influence colon lining repair in pediatric UC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to dietary changes or new protective strategies to help preserve the colon barrier in children with UC.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary lab data and transcriptome analyses suggest sulfites harm colon mitochondria and that Mocs1 is downregulated in pediatric UC, but translating these findings to clinical guidance is still novel and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ojo, Babajide — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Ojo, Babajide
Related research
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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.