Identifying neutrophil help for why biologics stop working in ulcerative colitis
Official title: Identifying Neutrophil Specific Mechanisms for Resistance to Biologics in Ulcerative Colitis
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11372193 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research team at Northwestern University is studying why some people with ulcerative colitis stop responding to common biologic medicines and how specific neutrophil cells in the gut might drive this resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $668,712 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135620-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372193 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with ulcerative colitis who have attempted biologic therapies and have tissue samples available for analysis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have UC or who have not been treated with biologics are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
In this project, researchers will look at tissue from ulcerative colitis patients and use advanced techniques to map neutrophils and other gut cells in exact locations of the gut lining. They will combine patient data with mouse models to understand how distinct neutrophil populations may damage the gut lining and reduce biologic treatment effectiveness. The study aims to link where neutrophils are located and how they behave with how well treatment works, using spatially resolved cell analysis. Results could point to new strategies to improve or personalize biologic therapy for UC.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better understanding of why biologic therapies fail and, ultimately, help tailor treatments for UC patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown that immune cell composition and location in the gut relate to treatment response, but this study combines human tissue data with animal models to deepen understanding.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sumagin, Ronen — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Sumagin, Ronen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
IMYX-3 treatment for ulcerative colitis
A new therapy approach called IMYX-3 aims to help adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis who have not responded well to current treatments.
-
Autoantibodies and ulcerative colitis: how avb6 antibodies may drive disease
This NIH grant aims to understand how antibodies against a gut cell protein (αvβ6) may actively contribute to ulcerative colitis and what that means for future treatments.
-
Selenium supplementation to help moderate-severe ulcerative colitis flare-ups
This grant tests whether giving selenium can help people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis reduce flares and improve symptoms.
-
Development of TP-317 for Ulcerative Colitis
A new therapy approach for ulcerative colitis aims to repair the intestinal lining and restore immune balance in people with UC, addressing a need for patients who don’t fully respond to current treatments.
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.