How the body's microbes and inflammation affect autoimmune disease

Functional Microbiomics, Inflammation and Pathogenicity

NIH-funded research University of Louisville · NIH-11291276

This project looks at how microbes that live in and on the body interact with the immune system to influence autoimmune diseases and how that knowledge could lead to better care.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Louisville NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Louisville, United States)
Project IDNIH-11291276 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This center brings together researchers to study the links between the human microbiome, inflammation, and bacterial pathogenicity in the context of autoimmune diseases. Teams will use microbiome sequencing, laboratory inflammation models, bioassays, and bioinformatics to find connections between microbes and immune responses. The program supports multiple integrated projects and the development of junior investigators to speed scientific progress. Some projects may use human-derived samples or patient data while others use lab or animal models to understand underlying mechanisms.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with autoimmune diseases who are willing to provide samples or participate in microbiome-related clinical or observational projects would be the most relevant participants.

Not a fit: People without autoimmune conditions or those who cannot provide samples or travel to collaborating sites may not directly benefit from this center's projects.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to prevent or treat autoimmune diseases by targeting microbes or abnormal inflammatory responses.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked microbiome changes to immune conditions and shown promising leads, but turning those findings into proven treatments is still early and experimental.

Where this research is happening

Louisville, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Autoimmune Diseases
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.