Immune cells and gut bacteria in colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps
Integration of Immunology and Microbiology into Molecular Pathological Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer
Researchers are combining information about immune cells, microbes, and tumor features to better understand how colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps develop in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143872 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at tissue and health information from people in large, long-running studies to map microbes and immune cells inside colorectal tumors and adenomas. It uses advanced lab tests that label multiple cell and microbial markers at once, together with digital image analysis and machine learning, to precisely count and locate different immune cells and bacteria. The team will link these tumor features to patients' diet, lifestyle, genetics, and clinical outcomes across diverse cohorts. They will also develop new statistical and computational tools to combine and analyze data from multiple study groups and populations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include people with colorectal cancer or adenomas, or people enrolled in the contributing cohort studies who can provide tumor tissue or clinical data.
Not a fit: People without colorectal disease or those who cannot provide tissue samples or are not part of the listed cohort studies are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors personalize screening, prevention, and treatments based on a tumor's immune and microbial profile.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked tumor immunity and the microbiome to colorectal cancer risk and outcomes, but combining these features across large population cohorts with advanced imaging and AI is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ugai, Tomotaka — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Ugai, Tomotaka
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 below.