How the CREM gene helps protect the gut in amebic colitis and inflammatory bowel disease
Official title: Role of CREM in Amebic Colitis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11242003 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether the CREM gene helps protect people from gut inflammation caused by amebiasis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 1989 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $558,597 |
| NIH project number | 5R37AI026649-36 |
| Project ID | NIH-11242003 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have had amebic colitis, recurrent intestinal infections, or who live with inflammatory bowel disease would be the most relevant candidates to contribute samples or join related studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without intestinal inflammation or unrelated medical conditions are unlikely to see direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This project studies a human gene called CREM to understand how it helps the innate immune system protect the gut from Entamoeba histolytica (amebic colitis) and from inflammatory bowel disease. Researchers combine human genetic analyses, lab studies of immune cells and signaling pathways, and microbiome and bile-acid experiments to find where and how CREM works. Past work from this team linked CREM to amebiasis risk and showed that gut microbes and bile acids can influence immune responses, which guides the current work. The goal is to point to new targets or strategies that could reduce bowel injury from infections or chronic IBD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new treatments or prevention strategies that reduce gut inflammation and bowel injury in amebic colitis and IBD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies by this team and others have linked CREM and related immune pathways to susceptibility to intestinal infections, but applying these findings to new treatments is still largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petri, William a — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Petri, William a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How our genes and immune system affect C. difficile infections
This project looks at how a common human gene variant and immune factors influence the severity of C. difficile infections and whether targeting inflammation could help patients.
-
Outpatient pathway for severe ulcerative colitis in the right care setting
This study tests a safe, outpatient approach using an oral therapy and remote monitoring for people with acute severe ulcerative colitis to avoid hospitalization.
-
Fh15-based therapy to calm inflammation in sepsis and ulcerative colitis
A research project tests a molecule from a parasitic organism (Fh15) to reduce harmful inflammation in adults with sepsis or ulcerative colitis.
-
Mitochondrial Talks: How Energy Networks Shape Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Aimed at people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), this project explores how tiny cell powerhouses in the gut may go out of balance and contribute to IBD, with the goal of restoring energy and reducing disease symptoms.
-
Mn in inflammatory bowel disease: how manganese and genes may shape gut inflammation
This grant studies how the mineral manganese and a specific gene variant may influence inflammatory bowel disease in people of different ages.
-
AI-Enhanced Virtual Reality CBT to Reduce Anxiety for IBD Patients
A home-based VR and AI-powered cognitive behavioral therapy program is being tested to help people with inflammatory bowel disease feel less anxious and improve their quality of life.
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.