Immune signals and gut bile acids in Giardia infections
Official title: Project 2
Funded at University of North Dakota · NIH-11128582 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looks at how immune signals and gut bile acids help children and others clear Giardia infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Dakota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Grand Forks, United States) |
| Project start | May 13, 2016 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $94,889 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM113123-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128582 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with recent or ongoing Giardia infection, especially young children with diarrhea or failure to thrive, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without Giardia infection or whose symptoms come from unrelated gut conditions are unlikely to get direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
From a patient's view, researchers are trying to understand why some people quickly clear Giardia while others have ongoing diarrhea, cramps, or growth problems. They examine immune messenger molecules such as CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 and how these signals act in different parts of the intestine. The work uses laboratory experiments including animal models and tissue studies to see how bile acids and microbes shape the gut immune response. Findings aim to link those lab results to the symptoms seen in children and adults with giardiasis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to new prevention or treatment strategies that reduce prolonged diarrhea, malabsorption, and growth problems from Giardia infections.
How similar studies have gone: Prior lab and animal studies have shown immune signals and bile acids affect gut infections, but applying those findings specifically to human Giardia disease is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Solaymani-Mohammadi, Shahram — University of North Dakota
- Study coordinator: Solaymani-Mohammadi, Shahram
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.