Improving treatment for pediatric diarrhea
Official title: Mentoring patient-oriented researchers in pediatric diarrhea
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-11078777 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to improve how we treat diarrhea in kids under 11, helping doctors know when antibiotics are really needed and finding ways to use them wisely, all while training new researchers to better understand and tackle this serious health issue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | May 11, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $171,918 |
| NIH project number | 5K24AI166087-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11078777 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who are experiencing diarrheal illnesses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with diarrheal illnesses caused by non-infectious factors or those outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the management of diarrhea in children under 11 years old, which is a leading cause of death in this age group. It aims to develop better clinical decision-making tools by utilizing spatial-temporal data and biomarkers to identify when antibiotics are necessary. The project will also explore strategies for antimicrobial stewardship to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. By mentoring patient-oriented researchers, the study seeks to improve the overall understanding and treatment of pediatric diarrheal illnesses, especially in resource-limited settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and targeted treatments for pediatric diarrhea, potentially reducing mortality and morbidity in young children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using clinical prediction rules and biomarkers for improving treatment outcomes in similar pediatric conditions.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leung, Daniel Ted — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Leung, Daniel Ted
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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PediCODE: A Biorepository and Consortium for CoDE - Congenital Diarrhea and Enteropathy
A nationwide effort to collect clinical data and patient-derived samples to uncover the genetic causes of congenital diarrhea and enteropathy and to build a resource that helps researchers study these diseases.
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PediCODE Consortium and Biobank for Congenital Diarrhea and Enteropathy
Creating a multi-center team and biobank to find genetic causes of congenital diarrhea and enteropathy in children and collect samples that can help future research.
-
Mobile health tool to guide dehydration care for acute diarrhea across all ages
A mobile app uses AI to help people of all ages determine dehydration risk during acute diarrhea and guide rehydration decisions.
-
Understanding how certain gut bacteria cause diarrhea in children and how it works in the gut lining
This project looks at how infections from ETEC and EPEC bacteria cause diarrhea, especially in children, and uses a mouse model and human-derived gut cell systems to uncover the underlying mechanisms.
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Targeting a gut transporter to help relieve constipation in CF and older adults
Aimed at helping people with cystic fibrosis and older adults who have chronic constipation by studying a gut transporter to improve intestinal fluid balance.
-
Targeting gut drug processing to prevent diarrhea from mycophenolate
This project tests whether using natural gut-acting compounds to boost a specific drug-clearing pathway in the lower intestine can reduce diarrhea caused by the transplant drug mycophenolate in people who take it.
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.